Three dead after two helicopters collide midair near Oregon airport

Three people have died after two helicopters collided midair near a small airport in Oregon, officials said.

The collision involving a Robinson R22 and an Airbus helicopter occurred near McMinnville Municipal Airport on Thursday afternoon. Both aircraft crashed in a field adjacent to a highway, the sheriff's office said.

Authorities identified the victims as a 22-year-old flight instructor from Texas and a student pilot from the United Kingdom, who were aboard one of the helicopters. The sole occupant of the other aircraft was also killed.

I t was not immediately clear what caused the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) responded to the scene and are leading the ongoing investigation.

The BBC has contacted the FAA for comment.

The flight instructor on the Robinson R22 was identified Maddie Aasbo. The student pilot from the UK has not yet been publicly identified, as authorities work with the consulate and the FBI to notify the next of kin.

The sole occupant of the Airbus was identified as Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon.

One of the aircraft was operated by Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training school based at the McMinnville Municipal Airport, according to a statement from the company.

"Jerry Trimble Helicopters is deeply saddened to confirm that one of our aircraft was involved in an aviation incident this afternoon," the company said, adding that they were fully cooperating with investigators.

Authorities asked the public to avoid the area as they responded to the incident.