Flight instructor, 22, and pilot, 38, among other fatalities after mid-air collision occurs near small airport
Three people have been killed after two helicopters collided in mid-air near a small airport in Oregon on Thursday, authorities have confirmed.
The Yamhill county sheriff’s office said on Thursday that it received reports at about 2.10pm local time about an aircraft incident involving two helicopters that had crashed south-east of McMinnville, near McMinnville municipal airport.
Uma colisão entre helicópteros deixou três mortos perto de um aeroporto no estado do Oregon, nos EUA, nesta quinta-feira (29), informou o xerife do Condado de Yamhill.
O Gabinete do Xerife foi acionado para o local, próximo ao Aeroporto Municipal de McMinnville, juntamente com forças de segurança locais, bombeiros e equipes de resgate médico. McMinnville fica a cerca de 64 quilômetros a sudoeste de Portland.
Um dos helicópteros transportava duas pessoas: um instrutor de voo do Texas e um aluno-piloto do Reino Unido, informou o xerife Sam Elliott durante uma coletiva de imprensa na noite desta quinta-feira.
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O piloto do outro helicóptero, que era o único ocupante, foi identificado como um homem de Newberg, no Oregon, disse o xerife.
O gabinete do xerife pediu ao público que evite a área e tenha “paciência enquanto respondemos a este incidente crítico”.
A investigação sobre o acidente, ocorrido por volta das 14h15,horário local (18h15, em Brasília), está sendo conduzida pelo NTSB (Conselho Nacional de Segurança nos Transportes), segundo a FAA (Administração Federal de Aviação), que também está apurando o caso.
Um dos helicópteros envolvidos no acidente era operado pela Jerry Trimble Helicopters, uma escola de treinamento de voo em helicópteros e empresa de locação para voos particulares, informou a companhia em um comunicado.
“A Jerry Trimble Helicopters está profundamente entristecida ao confirmar que uma de nossas aeronaves esteve envolvida em um incidente aéreo nesta tarde”, declarou a empresa.
A empresa acrescentou que está colaborando com as autoridades na investigação.
Three people were killed when two helicopters collided midair near an Oregon airport Thursday afternoon, crashing in a field and prompting authorities to close a nearby highway.
The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office confirmed Thursday that all three people aboard both helicopters died in the crash.
The two victims aboard the Robinson R22 helicopter were identified as 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, of Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom, according to the sheriff's office. The student's identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The sole occupant of the Airbus helicopter was identified as Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon.
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.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) responded to the scene and are leading the ongoing investigation into the collision, according to the sheriff's office.
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