Two helicopters collided over a farm field east of McMinnville Airport at about 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, killing 22‑year‑old Texas flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, 38‑year‑old Oregon pilot Tyler Sturdevant, and a UK student pilot whose name has not yet been released.
The Robinson R22 and Airbus H125 were the aircraft involved, according to Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott. The R22 carried a pilot and a passenger, while the H125 had only its pilot aboard.
A local farmer who saw the crash called the scene a "sudden explosion of metal," adding that he heard a scream before the aircraft slammed into the cornfield.
Highway 233 was shut 1 mile west of Dayton, halting commuter traffic and prompting the Oregon Department of Transportation to request a temporary closure until investigators secure the site.
The FAA and NTSB have launched an investigation, and Jerry Trimble Helicopters has suspended operations at the airport pending the findings. Officials will keep the public posted as the investigation proceeds.