At least three people are dead after two helicopters collided midair near a small airport in Oregon, forcing the closure of a key highway.
Emergency crews responded following reports of a crash east of McMinnville Airport, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office.
One of the aircraft came from the aviation school Jerry Trimble Helicopters, which is located at the airport.
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“Our hearts and thoughts are with the individuals involved, their families, and everyone affected by this event,” the school said in a statement posted on social media.
The school said it was co-operating with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board to secure the site and determine the cause of the collision.
The FAA said the collision was between a Robinson R22 and an Airbus H125.
Only the pilot was on board the R22 and the H125 was carrying two people, according to an FAA statement.
Investigators from the FAA and NTSB were at the scene.
Photos posted by local media show a helicopter crumpled in a field near a road.
The Oregon Department of Transportation said Highway 233 is closed west of Dayton because of the crash.
McMinnville, about 56km southwest of Portland, is home to about 34,000 people.
