Fireworks Near Army Helicopter at Seahawks Game
Pyrotechnics exploded around a U.S. Army Black Hawk above Lumen Field before Seattle lost to the Chicago Bears 34-17.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Football
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Three U.S. Army helicopters flew over Lumen Field before fireworks were set off above the stadium's big screen, with the fireworks exploding around the final Black Hawk, which remained in the air. The Seattle Seahawks lost to the Chicago Bears 34-17 in the Monday night game.
Why it matters
The incident drew attention to pyrotechnic safety at a stadium with nearly 70,000 capacity, coming after a stray firework landed on the field at a New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens game last season. The loss also left the Seahawks at 4-4 and outside Wild Card contention.
The Seahawks dropped to 4-4 with the 34-17 loss, and Lumen Field has a capacity of nearly 70,000. The extraction does not address whether any safety review of the fireworks display is underway.
The players
Seattle Seahawks
The NFL franchise based in Seattle that plays home games at Lumen Field and lost this matchup to the Chicago Bears.
Chicago Bears
The NFL franchise from Chicago that defeated the Seahawks 34-17 in this game.
Arizona Cardinals
The NFL franchise from Arizona that is the Seahawks' next opponent on November 8.
The details
Three U.S. Army helicopters flew over Lumen Field before fireworks were let off above the big screen, and the bursts exploded around the final Black Hawk, which stayed airborne. The display came before the Seahawks' Monday night loss to the Bears.
Timeline
Last season: a stray firework flew onto the field at a Patriots-Ravens game.
June: the USA World Cup match against Australia featured a helicopter flyover.
Monday, November 2: the Seahawks lost to the Bears 34-17 in the game with the helicopter fireworks incident.
Sunday, November 8: the Seahawks are scheduled to play the Arizona Cardinals.
Season Trajectory
The Seahawks' 4-4 start leaves them outside Wild Card contention, and the loss came one week before a November 8 game against the 3-5 Arizona Cardinals. The incident also echoes last season's stray firework at the Patriots-Ravens game, which put pyrotechnic safety at NFL stadiums back in focus.
The 34-17 loss drops Seattle to 4-4 and out of Wild Card contention, which matters for fantasy rosters and playoff tracking. The next game against the Cardinals on November 8 will show whether the team can recover its position.
The takeaway
Pyrotechnic displays at large stadiums carry real risk, as shown by the stray firework at last season's Patriots-Ravens game and the explosions near a helicopter at Lumen Field. Fans and venues should weigh the spectacle against the safety margin each time.
What happens next
The Seahawks face the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, November 8.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Football coverage of the Seattle Seahawks.
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