Two Helicopters Collide Near Portland, Highway Closed

WHO:

KATU - Sheriff Sam Elliott identified the Robinson R22’s occupants as 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, of Texas, and a 31-year-old student pilot from the United Kingdom.

KATU - Elliott identified the Airbus AS350B3’s pilot as 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant, of Newberg.

KATU - Precision Helicopters confirmed Sturdevant’s death and called him its “beloved pilot.”

BBC - The flight instructor was identified as Maddie Aasbo; authorities had not publicly identified the UK student pilot while working with the consulate and FBI to notify next of kin.

CNN - Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott identified the Airbus H125’s occupants as a flight instructor from Texas and a student pilot from the United Kingdom; he identified the Robinson R22’s sole occupant as a man from Newberg, Oregon.

CBS News - The aircraft were an Airbus H125 and a Robinson R22.

CBS News - The Robinson R22 had one person aboard, its pilot; the Airbus H125 had two people aboard.

CBS News - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, and multiple area agencies were involved in confirming, investigating, or responding to the crash.

NY Post - A witness told Fox12 he was on the roof of a nearby barn when he saw the aircraft collide.

WHAT:

KATU - Sheriff Sam Elliott said dispatchers began receiving witness reports of the crash at about 2:10 p.m.

KATU - The Oregon Department of Transportation reported that Highway 233 was closed one mile west of Dayton because of the crash.

KATU - The sheriff’s office released new photos showing wreckage from both helicopters.

KATU - The sheriff’s identification of which people were aboard each helicopter differed from information the FAA released earlier.

KATU - FlightRadar24 tracking showed the Precision helicopter made a couple of loops over Newberg before heading back toward McMinnville.

KATU - Precision Helicopters said it was working with governing agencies and local officials to determine the cause of the collision.

BBC News - Both helicopters crashed in a field adjacent to a highway.

Fox News - The helicopters crashed in a field.

CNN - The Yamhill County sheriff said all three people aboard the helicopters died.

CNN - Jerry Trimble Helicopters said one of its aircraft was involved in the crash, expressed sympathy for those affected, and said it was cooperating with authorities.

CNN - The sheriff’s office asked the public to avoid the area and have “patience as we respond to this critical incident.”

CBS News - Two helicopters collided in midair; there was no immediate information about the occupants’ conditions.

CBS News - Authorities closed surrounding roads after the collision.

CBS News - The FAA said the NTSB would lead the investigation; the NTSB confirmed it was investigating.

NY Post - The witness said the helicopters “crash[ed] mid-air and plummet[ed] to the ground.”

ABC News - The FAA said two helicopters collided near an airport.

ABC News US - Authorities said two helicopters collided near a small airport southwest of Portland, shutting down a highway.

WHERE:

KATU - Crews found both helicopters in a privately owned farm field near Southeast Highway 154 and Stringtown Road, southeast of McMinnville.

KATU - The wreckage field was about 40 miles southwest of Portland.

CNN - The collision occurred in northwest Oregon.

Newsweek - The sole-occupant pilot was from Oregon.

CNN - McMinnville is about 40 miles southwest of Portland.

CBS News - The collision occurred near McMinnville Municipal Airport, in a community near Portland, Oregon.

CBS News - McMinnville is about 35 miles southwest of Portland.

ABC News - The collision was near McMinnville Municipal Airport.

ABC News US - The collision was southwest of Portland, Oregon.

NY Post - The witness saw the collision just outside McMinnville Municipal Airport.

WHEN:

CBS News - The collision occurred at about 2:15 p.m. local time on Thursday afternoon.

ABC News - The incident occurred Thursday afternoon.

HOW:

KATU - FlightRadar24 tracking showed the Precision helicopter took off at about 1:50 p.m.; its track ended less than a mile east of the airport about 20 minutes after takeoff.

KATU - Flight tracking showed the Precision helicopter departed McMinnville Municipal Airport, flew to Newberg, and returned toward McMinnville; its track ended less than a mile east of the airport.

CNN - The flight-training school and private-flight rental service Jerry Trimble Helicopters operated one of the aircraft.

CBS News - The FAA said the collision involved an Airbus H125 and a Robinson R22; the circumstances were unclear.

CBS News - Multiple area agencies responded to the crash site and surrounding roads.

(UPDATED October 30, 2026 13:05 UTC)

Two helicopters collided near McMinnville, Oregon, killing all three people aboard. The victims included flight instructor Maddie Aasbo and pilot Tyler Sturdevant. Federal investigators are examining the crash, which closed nearby roads.

(UPDATED October 30, 2026 10:00 UTC)

(UPDATED October 30, 2026 07:01 UTC)

Two helicopters collided near McMinnville, Oregon, killing all three people aboard. The aircraft crashed in a field near the municipal airport, southwest of Portland. One victim was instructor Maddie Aasbo; authorities are notifying the student pilot’s family.

(UPDATED October 30, 2026 05:59 UTC)

Two helicopters collided in midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport in northwest Oregon, crashed into a field, and killed all three people aboard. The aircraft were an Airbus H125 carrying a flight instructor from Texas and a student pilot from the United Kingdom, and a Robinson R22 flown by a man from Newberg, Oregon. The FAA and NTSB are investigating, while local agencies responded and authorities closed nearby roads.

(UPDATED October 30, 2026 02:59 UTC)

Three people were killed when two helicopters collided near McMinnville Municipal Airport, southwest of Portland, Oregon. The aircraft were an Airbus H125 carrying a flight instructor from Texas and a student pilot from the United Kingdom, and a Robinson R22 carrying a pilot from Newberg, Oregon. The FAA said the NTSB would lead the investigation, and authorities closed nearby roads as emergency crews responded.

(UPDATED October 30, 2026 02:02 UTC)

Two helicopters collided near McMinnville Municipal Airport, southwest of Portland, Oregon, and crashed to the ground. The aircraft were an Airbus H125 carrying two people and a Robinson R22 with only its pilot aboard; their conditions were not immediately known. Authorities closed nearby roads, and the National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into what caused the collision.