Two helicopters came down together in the skies near McMinnville Municipal Airport on Thursday afternoon. The Oregon helicopter collision involved two aircraft carrying a total of three people, and a stretch of Highway 233 is shut down while crews work the scene, according to CNN’s report of the FAA’s statement.
Here is what we know, and what officials have not yet said.
What officials have confirmed about the Oregon helicopter collision
The FAA says the collision happened around 2:15 p.m. local time. The aircraft were a Robinson R22 and an Airbus H125. CBS News reports the R22 carried only its pilot, while the H125 had two people aboard.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office says local law enforcement, fire and medical crews are on scene. The office also asked for “patience as we respond to this critical incident,” per CNN.
The NTSB is leading the investigation. The FAA is also investigating.
What we still do not know about the helicopter crash in Oregon
The most important question is also the hardest one: what happened to the three people on board. As of the latest reports, the FAA and the sheriff’s office had not released their conditions. Officials have not made any names public either. We are not going to guess.
Also unclear is why the two aircraft were in the same patch of sky. Officials have not said whether these were training flights, tours or private flying. The cause is unknown. Anyone telling you otherwise tonight is ahead of the facts.
Even the location is still coming into focus. KATU in Portland places the crash near Southeast Highway 154 and Stringtown Road, southeast of McMinnville, while the AP describes it as a few miles east of the airport. Outlets also disagree on how far it is from Portland, with estimates running from about 25 to 40 miles. McMinnville is a city of roughly 34,000 people.
Here’s the thing: what the midair collision near McMinnville means for people nearby
If you live or commute in Yamhill County, plan on detours. The Oregon Department of Transportation closed Highway 233 one mile west of Dayton, and the AP reports that officials closed local roads as well. Officials have not given a reopening time. Crash scenes under federal investigation can stay closed for hours or longer, so check ODOT’s travel info before you head out.
The airport covers 650 acres, and homes border part of it. It is also next door to a well-known aviation museum. That is part of why the Oregon helicopter collision is drawing so much attention locally, even before anyone knows how it happened.
What happens next after two helicopters collide
The NTSB will examine the wreckage, the flight paths, any radio and radar data, and the pilots’ records. Preliminary findings typically take weeks, not days, though that is general NTSB practice and was not stated in today’s reports. Final conclusions take much longer.
For now, watch for three things: official word on the three occupants, the names of the operators, and when Highway 233 reopens. We will update this story as the FAA, the NTSB and the sheriff’s office release more. If you want something else to read while you wait, we are also tracking the trade court fight over forced-labor tariffs and Georgia’s jump to No. 1 in the AP poll.
In the first hours after any crash, the most honest line is often the shortest one: investigators are still working.
