2 Helicopters Collide Midair Near Oregon Airport; 3 People Aboard, FAA Says
Two helicopters carrying three people collided in midair Thursday afternoon near an Oregon airport, crashing into a field and leading authorities to shut down a nearby highway.
The collision involving a Robinson R22 and an Airbus H125 occurred near McMinnville Municipal Airport at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement to News Outlet.
The Robinson R22 had one person aboard, identified as the pilot, while two people were traveling in the Airbus H125, according to the FAA.
A road closure sign stops traffic near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday after two helicopters collided in midair. (Fox News)
The FAA did not say whether anyone was injured or killed, and the conditions of all three people aboard the helicopters remained unknown.
The aircraft came down in a field off Oregon Route 233, roughly one mile west of Dayton, Oregon Department of Transportation spokesperson Mindy McCartt said.
McCartt told News Outlet that emergency responders requested the closure of the highway and several nearby county roads. No reopening time had been announced.
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John Paskell, manager of McMinnville Airport, said the crash happened away from airport property and did not affect airport operations. The airport remained open with no closures or restrictions.
Paskell said he understood that both helicopters were based at the airport, though he could not confirm what they were doing before the collision or explain how it happened.
Emergency vehicles and responders gather near a closed road outside McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday after two helicopters collided. (Fox News)
The FAA said it would investigate the crash with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will lead the inquiry and issue additional updates.
The agency noted that the information available was preliminary and could change as the investigation continues.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office and the NTSB did not respond to News Outlet’s requests for comment.
