Fireworks burst within feet of a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter as it cleared Lumen Field during a pre-game flyover ahead of the Seahawks–Bears matchup Monday, sending spectators shouting in alarm as the moment spread rapidly across social media. The aircraft kept flying, but the close call has left outlets scrambling to sort out exactly what happened and when.
According to JFeed, the four-helicopter formation performed its ceremonial flyover during the national anthem, and fireworks launched from the stadium area just as the final helicopter cleared the venue. That report describes footage appearing to show the fireworks coming into contact with the aircraft, and says the episode has raised concerns about how fireworks displays and helicopter flyovers share the same airspace. JFeed identifies the unit as the 2158th Aviation Regiment, part of the U.S. Army's 16th Infantry Division, while the Seattle Seahawks' own video description names the aircraft as four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters of the 2-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 16th CAB. It is not clear from available reporting whether those two unit names refer to the same formation.
Accounts also differ on timing. The Free Press Journal places the incident ahead of the November 2 matchup between the Seahawks and Bears at Lumen Field, while the Daily Mail describes the helicopters flying over the stadium during the NFL clash itself. Neither version is confirmed as the definitive sequence here.
Footage Shows Fireworks Near the Final Aircraft
The Free Press Journal reports that footage shared on social media appears to show fireworks exploding close to the final helicopter in the formation, though the outlet is careful to note that whether the fireworks actually hit the aircraft cannot be confirmed. The same report states there was no damage to the aircraft or its crew. Additional videos, according to reports relayed by JFeed, showed the fireworks coming very close to the aircraft, even as the helicopter continued on its flight path without damage.
There was still no confirmation that the fireworks struck the helicopter, but JFeed and the Free Press Journal reported that it sustained no damage; no public information about injuries.
Flyovers Have Become a Lumen Field Fixture
Helicopter flyovers have become common at Lumen Field as part of pre-match entertainment, according to the Daily Mail. The outlet also drew a comparison to a separate incident in Cape Town, where two Airlink Embraer E-Jets flew over DHL Stadium ahead of a rugby match at an altitude flight-radar data placed between 41 and 46 feet above the stadium roof. Airlink said in that case both jets flew within what it called approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits, according to the Daily Mail.
On the field, the Seahawks ultimately lost to the Bears 34-17, according to West Seattle Blog, which also noted the helicopters' return to the stadium roughly a week after a practice flyover. For now, the viral video stands as the clearest public record of the moment — a formation that cleared the airspace safely, even as fireworks burst close enough to rattle a stadium full of fans.
