Fireworks nearly hit Black Hawk helicopter during NFL flyover
2 min read
A US Army Black Hawk helicopter came dangerously close to fireworks launched during a pre-game flyover at Seattle’s Lumen Field, prompting fresh questions about safety procedures surrounding military aircraft appearances at major sporting events.
The incident occurred before the Seattle Seahawks hosted the Chicago Bears, with four Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters performing a pre-game flyover above the stadium.
What happened during the Black Hawk flyover?
Video footage shared on social media shows the helicopters approaching the venue in a diamond formation before passing over the stadium’s open roof. Three of the aircraft clear the venue before pyrotechnics begin firing.
However, the fourth helicopter remains directly over the stadium as blue and red fireworks erupt below, appearing to explode very close to the aircraft.
While some people sharing footage on social media thought the helicopter had been struck, other video shows the aircraft continuing its flight without any visible signs of damage.
The flyover was conducted by four UH-60M Black Hawks from the 2-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion.
Fireworks strike a U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk during the Seahawks–Chicago Bears pregame flyover at Lumen Field. https://t.co/0eA1Gyfapu
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 3, 2026
What is the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter?
The US Black Hawk family includes the S-70, UH-60, and SH-60 variants, of which there are around 3,960 units in service, mostly with the US Army.
The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is one of the US Army’s most widely used utility helicopters and has been in service since 1979.
Renewed questions about stadium flyovers
Helicopter flyovers have become a regular part of major sporting events in the United States, including NFL games at Seattle’s Lumen Field, which can host crowds of around 70,000 spectators.
The apparent near-miss comes just months after concerns were raised over another stadium flyover. In August, two Airlink Embraer E-Jets passed low over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium before a South Africa-New Zealand rugby international.
Flight-tracking data indicated the aircraft flew between approximately 41ft and 46ft above the stadium roofline as pyrotechnics were launched during the display. Airlink later said both aircraft operated within approved safety parameters and that the flyover had been carefully planned and rehearsed.
It is not currently known whether an investigation will be opened into the Seattle incident.
