Authorities have identified the third person killed in a collision between two helicopters near McMinnville on Oct. 29 as Christopher James Joughin, a student pilot from the United Kingdom.

Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliot identified Joughin after officials delayed releasing his name while notifying his family, who were in Zimbabwe.

Joughin was flying in a Robinson R22 with Maddie Aasbo, a 22-year-old flight instructor from Texas, when the aircraft collided with an Airbus AS350B3, officials said. The Airbus was piloted by Tyler Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg.

Sturdevant was a check airman for Precision, a McMinnville-based helicopter charter company, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Police were notified of the collision near the intersection of Highway 154 and Stringtown Road at 2:14 p.m. on Oct. 29. The Oregon Department of Transportation subsequently closed part of Highway 233, which remained blocked as of noon on Oct. 30.

A National Transportation Safety Board official said witnesses reported that the helicopters were at about 500 feet when they collided.

Earlier reporting on the crash was published by the Statesman Journal. Additional details on the aircraft involved were also reported by the Statesman Journal.

Source: Salem Statesman Journal