An LAPD helicopter pilot vented his frustration over the radio after military aircraft forced him to abandon a suspect search in mid-air.
The close call unfolded around 2 p.m. Last Tuesday over Los Angeles, with LAPD’s Air 3 helicopter circling a call in Echo Park when its crew received an alert about nearby aircraft, LAPD Officer Eisenman told the California Post. The police crew spotted a military helicopter approaching and attempted to contact its pilots over a shared aviation radio frequency, but received no response, Eisenman explained.
“When the military helicopter did not respond on the frequency, Air 3, in an abundance of caution, changed their flight profile,” Eisenman said.
Footage aired by CBS Los Angeles captured the two military helicopters flying over the 101 Freeway in Hollywood near where the LAPD aircraft was operating. Out of precaution, the LAPD pilot altered the helicopter’s flight path to avoid the approaching aircraft before returning to its original position once the military helicopter had passed.
Audio of the incident captured the LAPD pilot repeatedly announcing his position before his patience broke.
“You guys just pushed me out of a spot. I got a suspect hiding. You guys got to pay attention, man. That’s ridiculous,” the pilot could be heard saying.
“Gonna ram me over, dude,” he added.
Pilots operating in the area are expected to broadcast their locations over a common radio frequency so other aircraft can remain aware of nearby air traffic. However, LAPD officials told the station that the military helicopters did not respond to the police pilot’s radio transmissions, prompting him to take evasive action.
CBS Los Angeles reported that the military helicopters were believed to be operated by the U.S. Navy. The California Post reached out to the Navy for comment.
It remains unclear how close the helicopters came to one another or why the military aircraft did not respond to the LAPD pilot’s transmissions.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about shared airspace between law enforcement and military operations over densely populated urban areas, where radio silence can force split-second decisions.