Low-Flying Helicopter To Check For Radiation On Boston Marathon Route

NATICK, MA — A low-flying helicopter will be crossing the area over the next few days as part of a nuclear safety check.

The flights began Friday and will continue to Monday, according to a Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency tweet.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) will be flying helicopters as low as 150 feet in the air above the Boston Marathon route ahead of Monday's race.

The aircraft will measure expected background radiation as part of standard preparations to protect public health and safety on the day of an event, the agency said in a news release.

The radiation checks will be conducted with a twin-engine Bell 412 helicopter equipped with special sensors. The chopper will be checking the route in a grid over the next few days, and flights will only take place during daytime hours, the agency said.

The surveys are part of security and emergency preparedness activities.

The 2023 Boston Marathon begins Monday morning in Hopkinton. The race route traces Route 135 through Ashland, Framingham, and Natick before heading northeast along Route 16 in downtown Wellesley. The race finishes near the Boston Public Library in Copley Square.