Fox Oregon reports an aircraft crash near McMinnville Airport has closed Highway 233, about one mile west of Dayton. According to PulsePoint, the crash was reported at 2:09pm on October 29.
The Oregon Department of Transportation said Highway 233 was closed one mile west of Dayton near McMinnville Airport due to the aircraft crash and warned that the closure could be extended.
The agency advised drivers to use an alternate route, slow down and move over for emergency responders. It also directed motorists to TripCheck.com for updates.
Authorities have not released further details, and information on possible injuries remains unavailable as the investigation continues.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that two helicopters collided in the air before crashing near Southeast Highway 154 and Stringtown Road, southeast of McMinnville. The office said it had no immediate information about the number of people involved or their conditions, KCBY reported.
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FAA identifies helicopters involved in Oregon midair collision
According to the Associated Press, the aircraft involved were a Robinson R22 carrying one pilot and an Airbus H125 carrying two people. This brings the total number of people aboard the helicopters to three.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office said emergency crews responded at around 2:15pm after receiving reports of the collision a few miles east of McMinnville Airport.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was aware of the incident and was gathering information. The agency will lead the investigation.
The Robinson R22 is a two-seat helicopter, while the Airbus H125 can carry up to six passengers, depending on its configuration.
McMinnville is located about 35 miles southwest of Portland and has a population of approximately 34,000.
The airport covers 650 acres and has two paved runways. It is partly bordered by residential areas and is located near the North American Aerospace Museum.