A British student pilot and two Americans were killed in a mid-air collision involving two helicopters near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday. The accident claimed the lives of the unnamed UK student pilot, Texas-based flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, 22, and pilot examiner Tyler Sturdevant, 38.

The crash occurred when the two-seater Robinson R22 helicopter, piloted by the student under the instruction of Aasbo, collided with Sturdevant’s Airbus H125 helicopter over a farm field close to the airport. Aasbo was providing instruction to the British trainee at the time of the accident.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the circumstances that led to the collision. Authorities have not released further details about the cause of the crash or the identities of those involved, aside from the named American pilots.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding aerial safety during training operations, particularly in congested airspace near smaller municipal airports. The FAA’s investigation will examine factors such as communication, pilot experience, weather conditions, and aircraft maintenance to determine the cause of the collision. Further updates will be provided as the inquiry progresses.