Two helicopters collided in midair and crashed southeast of McMinnville, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, prompting road closures and an emergency response, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The collision occurred shortly before 2:15 p.m. near Southeast Highway 154 and Southeast Stringtown Road, the sheriff’s office said, as reported by KOIN. The FAA identified the aircraft as a Robinson R22 with one pilot aboard and an Airbus H125 carrying two people, KOIN reported.
Authorities had not released information about the three people’s conditions. The sheriff’s office said responders were at the scene and asked the public to stay clear of the area, according to KATU reporting carried by KPIC.
Oregon Highway 233 was closed about one mile west of Dayton because of the crash. The Oregon Department of Transportation warned the closure could be extended and urged motorists to take alternate routes, according to the Statesman Journal.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, according to the FAA information cited by USA TODAY. The cause of the collision and the condition of those aboard had not been announced in the reports available Thursday.
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