Three dead after two helicopters collide midair near Oregon airport, sheriff confirms
MCMINNVILLE, OREGON: Three people were killed after two helicopters collided midair near an airport in Oregon on Thursday, October 29, according to local authorities. The crash involved a flight instructor, a student pilot from the United Kingdom and another pilot.
The helicopters went down near McMinnville, about 40 miles southwest of Portland, at approximately 2:10 pm local time. The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office confirmed the fatalities and identified the people aboard both aircraft.
The aircraft involved were a 1995 Robinson R22 and a 2018 Airbus AS350B3. Authorities said the crash happened near the intersection of Highway 33 and Cruickshank Road, southeast of McMinnville.
Three people killed after two helicopters collide mid-air near airport in McMinnville, Oregon, sheriff’s office says. https://t.co/KKqvgaGBo3
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) October 30, 2026
Maddie Aasbo and Tyler Delane Sturdevant identified among Oregon helicopter crash victims
The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office identified the flight instructor aboard the Robinson R22 as Maddie Aasbo, 22, of Texas. A student pilot from the United Kingdom was also aboard the same helicopter.
Authorities have not released the student's name as they work with the consulate and the FBI to notify the family. The sheriff said the process of informing the student's relatives was still underway.
The sole occupant of the second aircraft, the Airbus AS350B3, was identified as Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon. All three people aboard the two helicopters died in the collision. The authorities have not shared further details about the victims or their flight plans.
Witnesses report collision near Highway 33 and Cruickshank Road
According to the sheriff's office, witnesses reported seeing the two helicopters collide near the intersection of Highway 33 and Cruickshank Road, southeast of McMinnville.
When first responders reached the location, they found both aircraft crashed in a field near the highway. The incident prompted a response from local emergency personnel and federal aviation authorities.
The crash occurred at around 2:10 pm on Thursday. However, authorities have not provided further details about what happened immediately before the two helicopters collided. The sheriff's office also shared information about the people aboard the aircraft, with the investigation now focused on establishing the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
FAA and NTSB investigate fatal midair helicopter collision in Oregon
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) responded to the crash site and are leading the investigation.
The NTSB will take the lead in investigating the incident, according to the FAA. Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision involving the Robinson R22 and Airbus AS350B3.
NTSB is investigating Thursday’s midair collision involving an Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 and a Robinson R22 helicopter near McMinnville, Oregon.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) October 29, 2026
There was also an initial difference in the information released by the authorities about how many people were aboard each helicopter.
In an earlier statement, the FAA said one person was aboard the Robinson helicopter and two people were aboard the Airbus. However, the sheriff later told reporters at a news conference that the information he received from responding personnel indicated two people were aboard the Robinson R22 and one person was aboard the Airbus.
The sheriff's office subsequently identified the three victims based on that information.
