Low-Flying Helicopter Causes Stir Near Galleria

HOUSTON, TX -- Reports of a low-flying helicopter seen circling and flying between skyscrapers in the Galleria area caused a bit of a stir Monday and left a lot of people wondering why it was in the air.

Curious as most people were, especially with the Super Bowl only days away, the reasons for the lazy flyover were less ominous and more of a precaution leading up to the big game.

On Monday and Tuesday, officials from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration conducted low-altitude flights to measure naturally-occurring background radiation in support of Super Bowl LI.

The NNSA is a Department of Energy agency that assists in national security operations and is tasked with reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction, especially during public events like the Super Bowl.

The NNSA used a twin-engine Bell 412 helicopter equipped with radiation-sensing technology to fly in a 7.5-mile grid pattern that covered areas of the Galleria and near NRG stadium, where the Super Bowl will be played.

Although some people in the Galleria area were curious, the NNSA had send out press information advising people to not be alarmed.

Image: Alec Wilson/Flickr

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