A student pilot from the UK is one of three victims of a crash involving two helicopters which collided near a small airport near Portland, Oregon.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office said emergency crews were called at about 2.15pm to reports of a crash a few miles east of the McMinnville Airport.
Recovery efforts were ongoing on Thursday evening.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the deadly crash was between a Robinson R22, a two-seat aircraft, and an Airbus H125, which can carry up to six passengers.
Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott told a news conference: ‘There were two occupants in the Robinson helicopter and one occupant in the Airbus, and all three are deceased.
‘The occupants of the Robinson helicopter were identified as a flight instructor from the state of Texas and a student pilot from the United Kingdom.
‘The sole occupant of the Airbus was an adult male from Oregon. The scene has now been turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.’
The American victims were identified as 38-year-old pilot Tyler Sturdevant and 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo.
The identity of the student pilot from the UK has not been released.
One of the helicopters came from the aviation school Jerry Trimble Helicopters, which is located at the airport.
A statement posted to the school’s social media said: ‘Our hearts and thoughts are with the individuals involved, their families, and everyone affected by this event.’
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