3 people killed in crash between 2 helicopters near McMinnville airport

MCMINNVILLE Ore. (KPTV) - Three people are dead after two helicopters crashed into each other near the McMinnville Municipal Airport Thursday afternoon, according to officials.

According to TripCheck, both lanes of Hwy 233 are closed currently and will likely remain closed for several hours.

The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office says the crash was reported around 2:15 p.m. near Southeast Highway 154 (Lafayette Highway) and Southeast Stringtown Road.

The two helicopters involved in the crash were an Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 and a Robinson R22 helicopter, according to the NTSB.

In a press conference on Thursday night, Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott said a flight instructor from Texas, identified as 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, and a student pilot from the U.K. were inside the Robinson helicopter.

The student pilot’s name has not been released as officials are still working to notify their family.

The third victim, 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant of Newberg, was in the Airbus at the time of the crash, according to the sheriff.

Leo Rodriquez witnessed the moment the two aircraft made impact while doing work on the roof of his barn. He describes it as a mid-air explosion.

“I heard the helicopter noise, I bent over to do something and then boom I looked up and everything was going down,” said Rodriquez. “There was a larger one [helicopter] intact still, the tail end of it was struck and then it turned and it propelled down and the other one dropped straight down.”

Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight school and private rental company confirmed on social media that one of their aircraft was involved in the crash.

The NTSB and the FAA are investigating the cause of the crash.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.