An Army Black Hawk came alarmingly close to fireworks during an NFL game flyover in Seattle, but Army officials said Wednesday that the helicopter and its crew emerged unharmed. Videos of the Nov. 2 pregame display quickly spread across social media.

“We can confirm that no fireworks struck the aircraft, no aircraft were damaged, and no members of the aircrew were injured,” Maj. Montrell Russell, an Army spokesperson, told Task & Purpose.

One video posted to the Aviation subreddit shows four Army Black Hawks flying over Lumen Field. As the formation passes above the stadium, the fourth helicopter appears to narrowly avoid fireworks launched from below.

The flight involved four Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, 7th Infantry Division. The unit is based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

An official from the base did not immediately respond to questions about whether a local investigation had been opened. The official also did not answer whether the command had taken any action following the incident.

The lack of an immediate response left unanswered questions about how the military flyover and the stadium fireworks were coordinated. Still, the Army’s confirmation established that the aircraft were not struck and that no crew members suffered injuries.

Simple Flying, an aviation magazine, reported that the seeming lack of coordination could have created serious danger if a helicopter had been hit. The publication pointed to a deadly helicopter crash on a California movie set in 1982.

In that incident, a Bell UH-1 helicopter crashed after special effects explosions detonated too close to the aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the crash.

According to the investigation, the helicopter’s tail “was engulfed in a fireball,” which caused the tail rotor to separate. The helicopter then “descended out of control.”

Three actors on the ground were killed in the 1982 crash, while six crew members were injured. The comparison highlighted the potential consequences when explosions occur too close to a helicopter, even though the Seattle flyover ended without damage or injuries.

The Black Hawk near miss became the latest public military display to draw scrutiny. The services regularly use demonstrations and flyovers at major events to showcase military personnel, aircraft, and specialized skills before large crowds.

Last month, an airman died after falling during a pregame rappelling demonstration at a football stadium. The demonstration occurred before a U.S. Naval Academy game in San Antonio, Texas.

Less than one week after the fatal fall, the airman’s unit announced that it had paused all rappel and ropes training events and demonstrations “until further notice.” The source did not identify when those activities might resume.

Military flyovers, like rappelling demonstrations, are common at large public events. Each year, the War Department receives hundreds of requests for flyovers at sporting events, holiday gatherings, and other celebrations.

The Nov. 2 videos placed fresh attention on one such display after fireworks rose near the formation over Lumen Field. Despite the unsettling footage, Army officials maintained that no fireworks hit the Black Hawks, no aircraft sustained damage, and every crew member was safe.

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