A US Army Black Hawk helicopter performing a flyover at a Seattle Seahawks game narrowly avoided being struck by fireworks launched from the stadium. The incident occurred on Monday during the NFL game between the Seahawks and the Chicago Bears at Lumen Field.
Footage shows a formation of four Black Hawk helicopters flying over the stadium. Three helicopters passed safely before fireworks, in red and blue, erupted from within the venue. The fourth helicopter was in close proximity to the pyrotechnics as they exploded around it.
The Black Hawk continued its flight without apparent damage, an event that surprised the estimated 70,000 spectators. The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, known for its durability and battlefield resilience since its introduction in 1979, prompted some online commentary suggesting its robust construction would have allowed it to withstand a firework impact.
Helicopter flyovers have been a common feature of pre-game entertainment at Lumen Field. The match concluded with the Chicago Bears defeating the Seattle Seahawks 34-17.
This incident follows a separate event in Cape Town, South Africa, where two Airlink planes performed a low-level flyover of DHL Stadium ahead of a rugby match. Airlink stated that the flights adhered to approved and rehearsed safety limits, with experienced crews operating the aircraft within predetermined altitudes and speeds.