Two helicopters collide midair near Oregon airport with three people aboard, FAA confirms
Two helicopters carrying a total of three people collided midair near an Oregon airport Thursday afternoon, crashing in a field and prompting authorities to close a nearby highway.
A Robinson R22 helicopter and an Airbus H125 helicopter collided near McMinnville Municipal Airport around 2:15 p.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Only the pilot was aboard the Robinson R22, while two people were aboard the Airbus H125, according to the FAA.
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A road closure sign blocks traffic near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday, following a midair collision between two helicopters. (Fox News)
The agency did not provide information about possible injuries or fatalities, leaving the conditions of the three people aboard the aircraft unclear.
The collision occurred in a field off Oregon Route 233, about one mile west of Dayton, according to Oregon Department of Transportation spokesperson Mindy McCartt.
McCartt told Fox News Digital that the highway and some nearby county roads were closed at the request of emergency responders. She said there was no estimated reopening time.
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 that both helicopters were based at the airport but could not confirm what activities they were conducting or how the collision occurred.
Emergency vehicles and personnel gather near a closed roadway outside McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday, following a collision involving two helicopters. (Fox News)
The FAA said it would investigate the collision alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will lead the investigation and provide further updates.
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The agency cautioned that its information was preliminary and subject to change.
The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office and NTSB did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
Brittany Miller is a Fox News Digital breaking news writer and former Independent reporter who graduated from Syracuse University in 2023.
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