Third victim named in deadly Oregon mid-air helicopter collision

Three people died after two helicopters collided in mid-air near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office and the Guardian. The New York Post reported that the third victim was identified as Christopher James Joughin, a 31-year-old British aviation student. Emergency responders located the two crashed aircraft in a private field south-east of the airport after receiving reports at about 2:10 p.m. local time, the Guardian reported. [1][2]

The New York Post reported that Joughin was in the cockpit with 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo when their helicopter collided with another helicopter and plunged 500 feet to the ground. The Guardian reported that a 38-year-old pilot was also among the fatalities. Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board told the New York Post that Joughin's identity was initially withheld while investigators contacted his family in Zimbabwe. [1][2]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, the crash involved a Robinson R22 carrying one pilot and an Airbus H125 carrying two people. Emergency personnel responded to the crash site in Yamhill County and closed nearby roadways following the incident. [7]

The cause of the mid-air collision remains unknown, and officials told the New York Post that it is still not clear where the pilots were traveling. Officials noted that the airport relies on self-reporting by pilots rather than air traffic control units, according to the New York Post. [1]