ldinkova@MiamiHerald.com
April 20, 2011
If this was a movie, it could be called Sleepless in Brickell.
Several large military-style helicopters were seen and heard conducting what appeared to be a training drill in downtown Miami Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
"A lot of times if they are flying at night is because they are filming a movie in different angles," Miami Fire Rescue spokesman Lt. Ignatius "Iggy" Carroll said about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.
As far as the Miami Fire department is concerned, the reason for the helicopters remains a mystery.
Miami police officers in Brickell said on Tuesday that it was all part of a planned Homeland Security exercise, but confusion about the helicopters was rampant Wednesday. A shift commander at Miami police said about 6:15 a.m. that she had overheard talk in the station about a movie that would be filmed in the area.
Shift commanders at Miami-Dade police and the U.S. Coast Guard were not allowed to comment.
About 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, at least three large choppers landed in a parking lot of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts on Biscayne Boulevard and 14th Street.
The choppers, which resembled Black Hawks, then took off flying over the Brickell and Miami river area. Men who appeared to be SWAT team members were also seen taking part in the exercise.
Witnesses were tweeting as the event unfolded.
"Three choppers just dropped a group of men on top of the Bank of America building in Brickell," tweeted a man identified as Ianik Drouin, about 9:45 p.m.
Droudin shared the photo on display.
"I just saw one of the #brickellchoppers turn so quickly, it had to go sideways," tweeted Sarah Elles about midnight.
Diana Pedroni also had trouble sleeping.
"Oh not again! #brickellchoppers flying on top of my building," tweeted Pedroni about midnight.
About 1 a.m., Eddie Prieto was surprised to find out he may have to endure more of it for the rest of the month.
"Five more niths? Boo! RT @Brickellinfo #DoD will be conducting drills through April 25th," tweeted Prieto about 1 a.m.
As of 7:20 a.m., public information officers had not issued an official statement about the helicopters.
Miami Herald Staff Laura Figueroa contributed to this report.
Several large military-style helicopters were seen and heard conducting what appeared to be a training drill in downtown Miami Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
"A lot of times if they are flying at night is because they are filming a movie in different angles," Miami Fire Rescue spokesman Lt. Ignatius "Iggy" Carroll said about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.
As far as the Miami Fire department is concerned, the reason for the helicopters remains a mystery.
Miami police officers in Brickell said on Tuesday that it was all part of a planned Homeland Security exercise, but confusion about the helicopters was rampant Wednesday. A shift commander at Miami police said about 6:15 a.m. that she had overheard talk in the station about a movie that would be filmed in the area.
Shift commanders at Miami-Dade police and the U.S. Coast Guard were not allowed to comment.
About 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, at least three large choppers landed in a parking lot of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts on Biscayne Boulevard and 14th Street.
The choppers, which resembled Black Hawks, then took off flying over the Brickell and Miami river area. Men who appeared to be SWAT team members were also seen taking part in the exercise.
Witnesses were tweeting as the event unfolded.
"Three choppers just dropped a group of men on top of the Bank of America building in Brickell," tweeted a man identified as Ianik Drouin, about 9:45 p.m.
Droudin shared the photo on display.
"I just saw one of the #brickellchoppers turn so quickly, it had to go sideways," tweeted Sarah Elles about midnight.
Diana Pedroni also had trouble sleeping.
"Oh not again! #brickellchoppers flying on top of my building," tweeted Pedroni about midnight.
About 1 a.m., Eddie Prieto was surprised to find out he may have to endure more of it for the rest of the month.
"Five more niths? Boo! RT @Brickellinfo #DoD will be conducting drills through April 25th," tweeted Prieto about 1 a.m.
As of 7:20 a.m., public information officers had not issued an official statement about the helicopters.
Miami Herald Staff Laura Figueroa contributed to this report.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/19/2176185/military-style-helicopters-over.html#ixzz1K4CztPeH
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