Skip to content

Mystery copter buzzes low in Black Creek

Angie Prescott is used to helicopters flying over her Black Creek home, but she was not prepared for the one which flew near her property Thursday morning.

Angie Prescott is used to helicopters flying over her Black Creek home, but she was not prepared for the one which flew near her property Thursday morning.

Prescott said around 9 a.m., a dark green helicopter flew overtop the roof of her home, circled closely over her property, and then dropped down close to a field behind her home.

She said her family is used to seeing military, RCMP and Coast Guard helicopters fly by, but never has one flown so close.

She added during the approximate hour-and-a-half session, the helicopter blade wash and vibration shook her home so much that not only did she have to raise her voice to talk with family members, but bolts holding a wardrobe to the wall ripped out of the wall from the vibration, and caused damage to the wall.

"It looked like a training session in an army helicopter; they flew directly over the house and then they dropped down," she noted. "The side door was open, and I could see soldiers or people in some sort of uniform sitting on the edge."

Prescott called the RCMP who directed her to contact 19 Wing Comox, who said they can't confirm if it was a military helicopter.

"It's a total residential area and seems like a bad place to practice drills, especially for our neighbours who have horses," she added.

Lieut. Trevor Reid, 19 Wing Comox public affairs officer, confirmed the helicopter was under the RCMP jurisdiction.

Cpl. Darren Lagan, communications officer for the RCMP Island District, said the helicopter "is most likely military" but could not comment further.

He added it is very unusual for helicopters to be low enough in residential areas to cause damage to homes.

In past years, the RCMP drug section and air service have generally begun an extensive Island-wide crackdown on outdoor marijuana grow operations during the second half of August.

photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com



Erin Haluschak

About the Author: Erin Haluschak

Erin Haluschak is a journalist with the Comox Valley Record since 2008. She is also the editor of Trio Magazine...
Read more