Two helicopters collided in midair Thursday afternoon near an airport in Oregon, prompting an emergency response from local and federal authorities, officials confirmed.
The incident took place at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time near McMinnville Municipal Airport, located roughly 35 miles southwest of Portland, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The collision involved an Airbus H125, which was carrying two people, and a Robinson R22 occupied solely by its pilot, the FAA reported. Authorities have not yet released information regarding the conditions of those on board, and the exact circumstances leading up to the midair impact remain unclear.
In the wake of the crash, the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office deployed multiple area agencies to the scene and closed surrounding roadways to secure the area for emergency personnel and investigators.
The National Transportation Safety Board has confirmed it will lead the formal investigation into the collision, working alongside FAA inspectors to determine the sequence of events that caused the aircraft to strike one another.
