Wild video shows military helicopters nearly being hit by pregame fireworks

Military Black Hawk helicopters were nearly struck by fireworks during a pregame flyover event before a matchup between the Seahawks and the Bears. According to coverage from ABC News and KATU, the incident was captured on video, showing the aircraft narrowly avoiding the pyrotechnics launched during the pregame festivities. The flyover took place as part of the ceremonial buildup to the sports event, though the timing of the fireworks created a dangerous proximity to the military aircraft. This event follows a previous flyover practice session that occurred one week prior to the actual game day, as reported by the West Seattle Blog. Multiple news outlets have highlighted the severity of the near-miss. Fox News described the footage as wild, while ABC News specifically identified the aircraft involved as Black Hawk helicopters.

The coverage emphasizes the visual evidence of the fireworks nearly hitting the military vessels. Local commentary provided by MyNorthwest.com featured reactions from individuals identified as Jake and Spike, who compared the proximity of the fireworks to the aircraft with the performance of the Seahawks' third-down attempts during the game, which ultimately ended in a loss for the Seahawks. This incident is significant because it involves the intersection of military flight operations and public sporting event pyrotechnics. The context provided by the West Seattle Blog indicates that the military had returned for this flyover exactly one week after a practice run. The use of Black Hawk helicopters for such displays is common, but the lack of clearance between the pyrotechnics and the flight path has drawn immediate attention from news organizations. The event took place during the high-visibility environment of a professional football game between the Seahawks and the Bears, increasing the public profile of the error.

Future developments will depend on the review of the flight and pyrotechnic coordination. Coverage from KATU and Fox News focuses on the existing video evidence, which serves as the primary record of how close the fireworks came to the helicopters. While the reporting confirms the helicopters avoided the fireworks, it does not specify if any official investigations have been launched by military or stadium authorities. Observers will likely look for statements regarding the coordination between the military flight crews and the event organizers responsible for the pregame fireworks display.