Two helicopters collide mid-air near Oregon airport

Summarised from 6 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 02:45 · Archive

Two helicopters collided mid-air near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday afternoon around 2:15 p.m. local time. A Robinson R22 helicopter carrying one pilot crashed into an Airbus H125 helicopter carrying two people. The aircraft came down in a field off Oregon Route 233, approximately one mile west of Dayton, about 35 miles southwest of Portland.

A witness told Fox 12 he was standing on the roof of a nearby barn when he saw the two helicopters collide mid-air and plummet to the ground just outside the perimeter of the airport. He immediately called 911. The Yamhill Communications Agency recorded an 'aircraft emergency' call at 2:09 p.m., and the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office received a call about the collision at 2:15 p.m.

Multiple area agencies responded to the crash site, including local law enforcement, fire and medical responders. All crews from McMinnville Fire District were deployed to the scene. Roadways around the crash site were closed, with Oregon Route 233 shut down one mile west of Dayton. The Oregon Department of Transportation warned that the closure could be extended and asked drivers to use alternate routes.

McMinnville Airport Manager John Paskell told Fox News Digital that the collision occurred off airport property and did not disrupt airport operations. The airport remained open without closures or restrictions. Paskell said he understood both helicopters were based at the airport but could not confirm what activities they were conducting or how the collision occurred.

The conditions of the three people aboard the helicopters remain unclear, with no immediate word on injuries or fatalities. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident, with the NTSB leading the investigation and providing further updates.

How it is being reported

• Three dead after two helicopters collide midair near Oregon airportThe collision involving a Robinson R22 and an Airbus helicopter occurred on Thursday afternoon, with both aircraft crashing in a field adjacent to a highway.BBC News · 30 Oct, 02:52
• Two helicopters collide midair near Oregon airport with three people aboard, FAA confirmsTwo helicopters collided midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon, crashing in a field and forcing highway closures as the FAA investigates.Fox News · 30 Oct, 02:21
• Two helicopters collide near Oregon airportA witness told Fox12 that he was standing on the roof of a nearby barn when he saw the two aircraft crash mid-air and plummet to the ground just outside McMinnville Municipal Airport.New York Post · 30 Oct, 01:29
• Helicopters collide mid-air in northeastern OregonA pair of helicopters collided mid-air Thursday afternoon in northwestern Oregon, the Federal Aviation Administration said.UPI · 30 Oct, 01:26
• 2 choppers involved in midair collision near Oregon airport, officials sayTwo helicopters collided in midair on Thursday afternoon in a community near Portland, Oregon.CBS News · 30 Oct, 00:09
• Two helicopters crash into each other in Oregon as emergency responders rush to the sceneEmergency responders in Oregon are rushing to the scene where two helicopters collided into each other in mid-air on Thursday near McMinnville Airport.Daily Mail · 29 Oct, 22:26

In this story: McMinnville Municipal Airport · Oregon · Federal Aviation Administration · National Transportation Safety Board · Yamhill County Sheriff's Office · Portland

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log