UK student pilot among three killed in mid-air helicopter collision in Oregon

Three people have been killed in a mid-air collision between two helicopters near a small airport in Oregon, police said.

A student pilot from the UK, who has not yet been named, was among those killed in the incident near Portland, along with Tyler Sturdevant, a 38-year-old pilot from Oregon, and 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, a flight instructor from Texas, Yamhill County Sheriff's Office said.

Ms Aasbo and the UK student pilot were on one aircraft, while Mr Sturdevant was on the other, sheriffs added.

The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.

Emergency crews responded around 2.15pm local time following reports of a crash a few miles east of the McMinnville Airport, according to police.

One of the aircraft was from an aviation school, Jerry Trimble Helicopters, which is located at the airport.

In a statement posted on social media, the school said: "Our hearts and thoughts are with the individuals involved, their families, and everyone affected by this event."

The school added that it was cooperating with authorities to secure the site and determine the cause of the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the collision was between a Robinson R22, a two-seater aircraft, and an Airbus H125, which can carry up to six passengers.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott told a news conference: "There were two occupants in the Robinson helicopter and one occupant in the Airbus and all three are deceased.

"The occupants of the Robinson helicopter were identified as a flight instructor out of the state of Texas and a student pilot from the United Kingdom."

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He added: "The sole occupant of the Airbus was an adult male from Oregon.

"The scene has now been turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board."

Officials said a one-mile section of motorway west of the nearby city of Dayton, Oregon, was closed due to the crash, with no indication of when it would reopen.

The sheriff's office has urged the public to stay clear of the area.

(c) Sky News 2026: UK student pilot among three killed in mid-air helicopter collision in Oregon