A midair collision involving two helicopters occurred near an Oregon airport on Thursday afternoon, resulting in both aircraft crashing into a nearby field. The incident, which involved a total of three individuals, led to the temporary closure of a section of a state highway.
According to information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), one of the helicopters, a Robinson R22, had only its pilot onboard. The second aircraft, an Airbus H125, was carrying two people. The FAA has not yet released any details regarding potential injuries or fatalities, leaving the conditions of the three individuals involved unknown.
The crash site was identified as a field situated off Oregon Route 233, approximately one mile west of Dayton. Mindy McCartt, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, confirmed the location and the necessity of closing the adjacent highway following the incident.
A representative identified as Paskell stated that both helicopters were understood to be based at the local airport. However, Paskell could not confirm the specific activities the aircraft were engaged in at the time of the collision or the precise circumstances that led to the crash.
Investigation Underway
The FAA announced that it would be collaborating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate the collision. The NTSB will take the lead in the inquiry and is expected to provide subsequent updates as their investigation progresses. The FAA also emphasized that the information provided thus far is preliminary and subject to revision.