Three people, including a 22-year-old flight instructor, have died after two helicopters collided in midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon, United States.

The crash, which occurred at about 2:15 p.m. local time on Thursday, sent both aircraft plunging into a private farm field, leaving wreckage scattered across the site and prompting the closure of a nearby highway.

Yamhill County Sheriff, Sam Elliott, identified the victims as Maddie Aasbo, 22, a flight instructor from Texas; Tyler Sturdevant, 38, an Oregon-based pilot; and a student pilot from the United Kingdom whose identity was not immediately disclosed.

According to the sheriff, Aasbo was conducting an instructional flight with the student pilot, while Sturdevant was alone in the second helicopter when the collision occurred.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) identified the aircraft as a Robinson R-22 used for flight instruction and an Airbus AS350 that was reportedly on a maintenance flight.

A witness, Leo Rodriguez, who watched the incident from his family’s vineyard, said the collision happened suddenly, leaving him struggling to comprehend what he had witnessed.

He told CNN affiliate KPTV that he heard a loud explosion-like sound before looking up and seeing the two helicopters collide and fall towards the ground.

Images from the scene showed one helicopter badly crushed, while the other lay upside down in the field.

Following the incident, authorities closed a section of Highway 233, approximately one mile long, as emergency personnel and investigators moved into the area. Residents were also advised to stay away from the crash site.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that it was working with the NTSB, which is leading the investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision.

One of the helicopters was operated by Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training and private helicopter rental company.

In a statement, the company expressed sorrow over the incident and confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved.

The company said it was cooperating with investigators, while extending its condolences to the victims’ families and others affected by the crash.

McMinnville, where the incident occurred, is located about 40 miles southwest of Portland, Oregon