3 dead after helicopters collide in U.S. Oregon

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed after two helicopters collided in midair on Thursday near a small airport southwest of Portland, the U.S. state of Oregon, according to local authorities.

Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott told a news briefing Thursday that the collision occurred at around 2:15 p.m. local time (2115 GMT) near McMinnville Municipal Airport, southeast of McMinnville. All three people aboard the two helicopters were killed.

The victims included a flight instructor from Texas, a student pilot from Britain and a pilot from Newberg, Oregon, according to local authorities.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the aircraft involved as a Robinson R22 carrying one pilot and an Airbus H125 carrying two people.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the collision, with the NTSB leading the investigation and providing further updates. The cause has yet to be determined.