Military Helicopters Nearly Struck by Premature Fireworks During Seahawks Pregame Flyover

A recent Monday night proved eventful for the Seattle Seahawks, both on the field and during their pregame festivities.

Before the Seahawks' 34-17 defeat against the Chicago Bears at Lumen Field, four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the U.S. Army’s 2nd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, conducted a ceremonial flyover of the stadium.

However, the aerial display encountered an unexpected hazard: fireworks. The timing of the pyrotechnics was miscalculated, with the fourth helicopter still within the stadium's airspace when the fireworks ignited. Video footage captured the close call, showing the explosives narrowly missing the final aircraft in the formation.

Seahawks Face Tough Defeat

This pregame incident seemed to foreshadow a difficult evening for the Seahawks. The 34 points conceded by Seattle's defense marked the highest total they had allowed throughout the current season.

Bears' standout quarterback Caleb Williams delivered a strong performance, throwing for 237 yards. This was notable given that the Seahawks' defense had not permitted any opposing passer to exceed 200 yards in their initial seven games. Overall, the Bears amassed 363 yards of total offense, surpassing their previous season high by 62 yards.

Just eight games after their Super Bowl victory, the Seahawks currently hold a 4-4 record. If the season were to conclude at this point, they would not qualify for the playoffs.

Struggles Across All Phases of Play

The defense was not the only unit to struggle in the loss to Chicago. Special teams also faltered, with the Bears successfully blocking a field goal attempt. Furthermore, Seattle's offense was held to just 252 total yards, marking their second-lowest offensive output of the season.

Adding to the list of misfortunes, the team's pregame fireworks display also encountered issues. All in all, it was a Monday night that many Seahawks supporters would prefer to forget.

The Seahawks are set to attempt a rebound when they face the Arizona Cardinals (3-5) on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.