USAupdated 1h ago2 min read
MapTwo Helicopters Collide Near McMinnville Municipal Airport, Killing Three
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Two helicopters, a Robinson R22 and an Airbus AS350B3, collided midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport. Three people died: Maddie Aasbo, Tyler Sturdevant, and a UK aviation student.
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Midair crash near McMinnville
Two helicopters collided in midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday afternoon, killing three people and sending both aircraft into a field adjacent to a highway. The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office said the collision involved a 1995 Robinson R22 helicopter and a 2018 Airbus AS350B3 helicopter, with the crash occurring at approximately 2:10 p.m. local time Thursday.
The sheriff identified flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, 22, of Texas, and a student pilot from the U.K. as aboard the Robinson R22, while the sole occupant of the Airbus was identified as Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board responded to the scene and are leading the investigation, with the NTSB leading the investigation and the FAA also probing the incident.
Identities, flight school, and roads
The sheriff said authorities were working with the consulate and the FBI to notify family, and the student pilot’s name was not released publicly as of the news conference. Jerry Trimble Helicopters said it was “deeply saddened to confirm that one of our aircraft was involved in an aviation incident this afternoon,” and the company added it was fully cooperating with investigators.
The Oregon Department of Transportation closed Highway 233, and the closure was described as a one-mile stretch near the crash as emergency work continued. The sheriff’s office asked the public to avoid the area while first responders found both aircraft crashed in a field near the highway and investigators combed through debris scattered across the field.
Investigation and next steps
The FAA said the NTSB will lead the investigation, and the FAA also said it was probing the incident as investigators worked at the scene. The NTSB said the two aircraft involved were a Robinson R-22, which was the instructional flight, and an Airbus AS350, which was on a maintenance flight.
The Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott told reporters that the crash killed Texas flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, 22, Oregon pilot Tyler Sturdevant, 38, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom. Authorities continued recovery and investigative work after the collision around 2:15 p.m. local time, and the Oregon Department of Transportation provided no estimate for reopening the nearby highway as officials asked for patience.