MCMINNVILLE, Ore. (KATU) — Three people were killed in a mid-air collision between two helicopters in rural Yamhill County, near the McMinnville Municipal Airport, Thursday afternoon, according to the sheriff.
A flight instructor from Texas and a student pilot from the United Kingdom were on board one of the helicopters. The other helicopter was piloted by a Newberg man, Sheriff Sam Elliott said during a news briefing.
The helicopters crashed on private land.
This is breaking news and will be updated. The original story is below.
A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson identified the plane involved in the crash as a Robinson R22 helicopter and an Airbus H125 helicopter.
The call to the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office came in around 2:15 p.m. The two helicopters crashed near Southeast Highway 154 and Stringtown Road, southeast of McMinnville.
According to the FAA, the two helicopters collided in mid-flight near the McMinnville Municipal Airport. Only the pilot was on board the R22. Two people were on board the H125, according to the FAA. The living conditions of the three individuals have not been revealed.
The Oregon Department of Transportation said it closed Highway 233 a mile west of Dayton because of the crash.
If you have photos or videos of the accident, please share them with us via Carillon.
This is breaking news and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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