By Emma Tucker and Julianna Bragg, CNN
(CNN) — Three people died after two helicopters collided midair near an airport in northwest Oregon on Thursday afternoon, according to the Yamhill County sheriff.
Responding crews found the crashed helicopters in a private farm field in a rural area near McMinnville Municipal Airport, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. McMinnville is about 40 miles southwest of Portland.
One of the helicopters was carrying two people, a flight instructor from Texas, identified as 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom, Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott said during a news conference Thursday evening. The student’s name was not released, pending family notification, according to the sheriff.
The pilot of the other helicopter, who was the sole occupant, has been identified as 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant from Newberg, Oregon, the sheriff said.
The sheriff’s office asked the public to avoid the area and have “patience as we respond to this critical incident.”
The investigation into the crash, which took place around 2:15 p.m. local time, is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board, according to the FAA, which is also probing the incident. The two aircraft involved were a Robinson R-22 and an Airbus AS350, the NTSB said.
Investigators from the FAA and NTSB were at the scene Thursday night, the sheriff said.
One of the helicopters was operated by Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a helicopter flight training school and rental service for private flights, the company said in a statement.
“Jerry Trimble Helicopters is deeply saddened to confirm that one of our aircraft was involved in an aviation incident this afternoon,” the company said. “… Our hearts and thoughts are with the individuals involved, their families, and everyone affected by this event.”
The company added it is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
The post 3 dead after 2 helicopters collide midair near Oregon airport, sheriff says appeared first on KRDO.
