UPDATE: Helicopter over east West Seattle

| Helicopter | West Seattle news

4:30 PM: Lots of reports of a dark helicopter circling over east West Seattle. It’s not on radar and we have no correlating reports of ground activity so far, but we’re driving around looking.

4:43 PM: We are in High Point and have eyes on the helicopter but no ID and not seeing anything unusual on the ground.

4:50 PM: Multiple readers say it’s a Guardian 1 chopper (King County Sheriff’s Office but they support multiple local law enforcement agencies).

4:52 PM: Now out of our sight – sounds like it’s headed west. We are checking with KCSO.

5:05 PM: Commenters now report a helicopter sighting over Admiral (still no radar ID).

5:43 PM: Still trying to find out what the circling was for, checking archives of a variety of radio channels, but haven’t found a clue yet. Didn’t see any ground law enforcement when we had the helicopter in view overhead in High Point vicinity. Will update this story if/when we get info.

10 PM: Commenters are discussing the tail number seen by those who got a clearer view of the helicopter, and it does not appear to have been Guardian One; we’ve heard back from KCSO, too, and our contact said they weren’t aware of anything working in our area.

hpspotter February 18, 2026 (4:34 pm)

Its orbit is currently centered on High Point.

Peter Miller February 18, 2026 (4:48 pm)

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Helicopter is King County Sheriff, hovering over SW Dawson & SW 22nd. Between Puget Ridge Cohousing and West Emerald (old Duwamish) Cohousing. No sirens on ground.
- JTinWS February 18, 2026 (9:20 pm)
  
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  How did you identify it as the sheriff’s helicopter? Other commenters report it was not labeled as such.

Megan February 18, 2026 (4:34 pm)

I came here because I’ve been hearing the sound for about 45 minutes, it’s very anxiety inducing. Does anyone listen to police radios and have they heard anything?

Going Crazy February 18, 2026 (4:40 pm)

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Right?! It feels like it has been going on forever. I’m in High Point trying to work and I can’t focus at all. This is worse than leaf blowers.
- Question Authority February 18, 2026 (4:55 pm)
  
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  You know what’s really worse than leaf blowers, criminals on the run in the neighborhood, that’s what.
  - Jort February 18, 2026 (10:15 pm)
    
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    Are you certain there were “criminals on the run in the neighborhood?” Because it sure doesn’t sound like that was the case.
- Anne February 18, 2026 (5:06 pm)
  
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  Oh please,
NaTina Taylor February 18, 2026 (4:47 pm)

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It really is it’s been flying around home Depot all day long and no one knows what it is no one’s trying to find out what it is and we’re right next to the police station

Alan C February 18, 2026 (4:35 pm)

The helicopter seems to be hovering around the High Point to Westwood Village area. This morning at 6:04 AM there was a loud explosion and one flash of light. It was south of Sylvan Ridge Townhomes. I’m wondering if the two incidents are related.

NaTina Taylor February 18, 2026 (4:48 pm)

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It’s also hovering At home Depot
MJ February 18, 2026 (4:57 pm)

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I’ve been awake since that explosion/light display. I wish we knew what it was.
Power outage February 18, 2026 (6:25 pm)

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So that’s what caused the power outage this morning. I woke up this morning at 630 and noticed several of my smart lights were on around the house so I knew the power went out. They turn on automatically when power comes back, then have to flip the switch to reset smart light feature. Came here to see what happened overnight but no report
- WSB February 18, 2026 (8:02 pm)
  
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  We didn’t hear from anyone about a power outage (and usually somebody who loses power, even in small outages, will text us) – and we really appreciate that because SCL otherwise has no online public archives of outages once they’re over, so at least our reports – for 18+ years – have provided that …
Joan February 18, 2026 (8:28 pm)

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Yes!! I saw that flash and heard a bang then. I never figured out what it was. Not lightning or power outage. Strange.

Bruce February 18, 2026 (4:37 pm)

I live in high point and it’s been circling for about 30 minutes or longer

Neighbor February 18, 2026 (4:38 pm)

Def circling south delridge now

Kayla February 18, 2026 (4:39 pm)

It just keeps circling and I’m off Delridge and SW Brandon St.

Alki Stu February 18, 2026 (4:41 pm)

Now there is one over Delridge near the Delridge Library. Curious.

Greg February 18, 2026 (4:43 pm)

It’s dark green with yellow markings.

Jort February 18, 2026 (4:54 pm)

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Similar to this?
- B February 18, 2026 (5:42 pm)
  
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  Nope, it’s more like civilian helo, that there is a military Blackhawk/Seahawk.

Peeb February 18, 2026 (4:45 pm)

It’s also been circling farther north, to about 35th & Hudson.

HC February 18, 2026 (4:47 pm)

It’s flying very close to Delridge, closer to Delridge & Hudson / Brandon area, on the east side around Louisa Boren K-8. Been going on about 45 minutes.

Anonymous February 18, 2026 (4:47 pm)

I see it circling now – it seems to be more like delridge area.

Michael Hobbs February 18, 2026 (4:59 pm)

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Just flew west over California & Walker, seeming out towards Alki

Dre February 18, 2026 (4:48 pm)

I’m @ 35th & Webster, looking East. Helicopter seems to be hovering around High Point/ Delridge (HOME DEPOT area)

CatDoc February 18, 2026 (4:54 pm)

Circling over North Admiral now.

William February 18, 2026 (4:56 pm)

It’s circling Hiawatha park

westseattlecoug February 18, 2026 (4:57 pm)

It’s currently circling over Alki and North Admiral.

John February 18, 2026 (5:03 pm)

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It’s showing this on an app.
- WSB February 18, 2026 (5:09 pm)
  
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  Those go over at least daily. Helicopters aren’t unusual, circling is… will keep sleuthing!
- Jort February 18, 2026 (5:16 pm)
  
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  That is not the helicopter that’s been hovering over West Seattle this afternoon.
- Anon E. Mouse February 18, 2026 (5:24 pm)
  
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  I don’t think that was the one we had circling here, this one had an uncovered (or no) tail rotor, unlike the Eurocopter in the app.
- JOAN February 18, 2026 (6:38 pm)
  
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  - 579AM is Airlift NW helicopter. Not the one hovering over West Seattle

mark February 18, 2026 (4:57 pm)

Now it’s over the admiral district.

Sillygoose February 18, 2026 (4:57 pm)

Mayor checking encampments along with open property for RV lots!

Katie February 18, 2026 (4:57 pm)

It’s now over North Admiral

John F February 18, 2026 (4:57 pm)

Its circling over Admiral District / Alki area now I try to locate it on the flight radar app but no trace there!!! How strange

Dayna February 18, 2026 (4:58 pm)

Now circling over Admiral/Belvidere

Johanna February 18, 2026 (4:58 pm)

Came here to find info. Was just circling the area from WS Highschool, over Met Market and that vicinity from at least 4:52, just flew west at 4:57 as I typed.

JAM February 18, 2026 (4:59 pm)

Came here to find info. Was just circling the area from WS Highschool, over Met Market and that vicinity from at least 4:52, just flew west at 4:57 as I typed.

Jason February 18, 2026 (4:59 pm)

Been doing circles above Admiral now. Making its way toward Alki.

Anon-North February 18, 2026 (5:01 pm)

Now it’s circling around North Admiral, and it doesn’t show up on ADS-B
Exchange. It’s required to have its ADS-B transponder on.

Andy February 18, 2026 (5:01 pm)

Saw it over north admiral. Not showing up ADSB which is crazy given thr amount of flight traffic in the area.

Anonymous February 18, 2026 (5:02 pm)

Helicopter headed over Alki in a straight line to Bremerton.

Anonymous too February 18, 2026 (5:03 pm)

Helicopter headed over Alki in a straight line to Bremerton.

Fred February 18, 2026 (5:04 pm)

This one? Was over Admiral just before 5:00PM. It is nearly black – very dark colors.

Jort February 18, 2026 (5:12 pm)

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Great photo. That looks like N963JS, which is a privately-owned helicopter. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n963js
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=963JS. What are they doing hovering over our neighborhoods?
Anon E. mouse February 18, 2026 (5:19 pm)

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I thought I could see a gold stripe when I was looking at it near high point, but if that’s from admiral a bit ago it’s the one we had circling down here I think. The coloring and number look right.Tail number shows a bell aircraft registered to Lindsey aviation services in Texas. Quick search found a couple flights in the last while around Olympia.
Matt February 18, 2026 (5:22 pm)

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I was able to just make out the ID on the side of the helicopter on this picture, seems like this is it?https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10496448Doesn’t really answer what it’s doing though.
nobody February 18, 2026 (5:27 pm)

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N963JSRegistered to LINDSEY AVIATION SERVICES.Shrug.
- Anon E. Mouse February 18, 2026 (5:42 pm)
  
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  I’m finding an article from 2015 about how that company was a front for the DEA, they had 10 aircraft registered for surveillance at the time. John Wiseman on Twitter and now Bluesky seems to be the one who discovered this back then, the specifics go over my head without a deep dive though. Its on “Mint Press News”, I don’t know who these people are or were in 2015 so more research would be prudent.
- FedUp February 18, 2026 (7:52 pm)
  
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  Lindsey Aviation may be a shell registrant for alphabet orgs. Same registration number was observed in Tacoma a year ago and stirred up confusion. Govt use could explain lack of active transponder.https://www.mintpressnews.com/dea-operating-surveillance-aircraft-fleet-over-u-s-and-abroad/209904/

Kat February 18, 2026 (5:05 pm)

Saw a helicopter matching the description yesterday, midday, flying straight East to West from water over Cambridge and 35th and sounded like it continued on.

Rob February 18, 2026 (5:06 pm)

Could be a realtor or developer fly over to get a better view of property . Which is a common practice.

Cghr February 18, 2026 (5:12 pm)

Black helicopter as pictured above. Did it leave?

Steve February 18, 2026 (5:13 pm)

Heading SW over Alki Beach at 4:56pm.

Meow February 18, 2026 (5:28 pm)

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This belongs to a car dealer named Jeff Swickard. I doubt this is nefarious. It could be for a million reasons. This whole thread is a nothing burger
- Jort February 18, 2026 (5:39 pm)
  
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  ?? Where are you getting this info? The helicopter is registered to an aviation holding company, Lindsey Aviation Services.
- Neighbor February 18, 2026 (6:02 pm)
  
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  It’s concerning when they’re circling and hovering over neighbors with no discernible teason
- Jort February 18, 2026 (6:02 pm)
  
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  Furthermore, would car dealer Jeff Swickard have a FLIR turret mounted on the front of the helicopter? Taking some low-pass infrared video of the neighborhood for fun and games, maybe? I’m not sure why a car dealer would need – much less be able to buy – such a piece of equipment for their helicopter?

Z February 18, 2026 (5:14 pm)

Im pretty sure this is the helicopter, looked up the number, Bell 407 Lindsey Aviation?

Z February 18, 2026 (5:17 pm)

Looks to be this helicopter, bell 407 Lindsey Aviation?

Nick February 18, 2026 (5:23 pm)

Just googling the tail number in that image

W February 18, 2026 (5:34 pm)

based on similar circumstances a decade ago according to this article: https://www.mintpressnews.com/dea-operating-surveillance-aircraft-fleet-over-u-s-and-abroad/209904/ this company (Lindsey Aviation) has had contracts with DEA and FBI. it might rent/ be involved with a variety of clients, i don’t know. This just stood out to me because it was another incident of no radar transmission.

CatDoc February 18, 2026 (5:36 pm)

Annnd just disappeared right at 5 pm.

WSeaHawk February 18, 2026 (5:41 pm)

SPD map shows shots fired near WS Golf Club

WSB February 18, 2026 (5:54 pm)

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When you see “shots fired” on the data map, almost always it’s someone who thinks they heard some but no evidence is ever found. The circling was not in that area, also – 3200 block of Avalon is the 7-11 vicinity. I’ve listened to the archived main radio as well as other channels for 3:30-5 pm and nothing major involving SPD response.

JP February 18, 2026 (6:01 pm)

It’s registered to Lindsey Aviation. This is VERY unconfirmed, but there are some sources online that suggest Lindsey Aviation is a shell company used by the DEA to register their aircraft. The DEA doesn’t allow tracking by FlightAware or other online flight tracking services, so that would also make sense. Again, please take this with as many shakers of salt as you have, but here’s one article with these details: https://www.mintpressnews.com/dea-operating-surveillance-aircraft-fleet-over-u-s-and-abroad/209904/I think “DEA exercise” makes as much sense as any other explanation. Or… IT’S ALIENS.

ComradeM February 18, 2026 (6:13 pm)

According to Mint Press News, Lindsey Aviation Services is a DEA fake front company for the sake of registering their surveillance craft under private entities.https://www.mintpressnews.com/dea-operating-surveillance-aircraft-fleet-over-u-s-and-abroad/209904/

Tinfoil hat February 18, 2026 (6:15 pm)

I got a decent view of it through my binocs from the yard. It definitely looked like the private pic posted and not King County Sheriff (for starters, it did not have the word “Sheriff” on the side). To the aviation nerds – is it weird that a private aircraft didn’t appear on the radar apps, or is that normal?

Anon-North February 18, 2026 (7:29 pm)

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It’s very unusual. The only aircraft I routinely see without an ADS-B transponder are the military fighter jets that come through for sports flyovers or the airshow. I reported this helicopter to the FAA, asking them to confirm that it was operating with appropriate authorization. I don’t expect a response, though, so hopefully someone can discover some more information. I don’t appreciate secret helicopter flights loitering low over our residential neighborhood.
- Ferns February 19, 2026 (12:38 am)
  
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  Thank you.

aRF February 18, 2026 (6:25 pm)

I found a 2015 web page that argued that Lindsey Aviation Services is a front for DEA aircraft. https://www.mintpressnews.com/dea-operating-surveillance-aircraft-fleet-over-u-s-and-abroad/209904/My understanding is that this is a far-left conspiracy website.

Curiouser February 18, 2026 (9:44 pm)

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Here’s another site that links Lindsay and the DEA:https://www.scandiego.com/viewtopic.php?t=1701
- Jort February 18, 2026 (10:21 pm)
  
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  Yeah, with the surveillance package attached, the lack of ADS-B transponder and the persistent hovering in targeted locations, I’m thinking this is some kind of federal surveillance effort. Whether it’s DEA, FBI or whatever, it doesn’t seem local. There’ve been plenty of concerns around this in the last year, but it looks like Seattle’s in the crosshairs, for now.
  - SalmonFan February 19, 2026 (7:28 am)
    
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    Agreed this really felt like a surveillance exercise. They were also very methodically moving NE, and with that camera on top I don’t know what else they’d be doing other than mapping out West Seattle. With everything going on right now and the lack of it being on radar it’s hard to not imagine malicious reasons for doing so. If it had been more transparent about it’s ID I could think they are updating maps, getting data on hydrology or housing density or something. But based on the articles posted my gut says this was DEA or ICE related =\
    - AD February 19, 2026 (9:38 am)
      
      I can’t help but wonder if it was the DEA on behalf of ICE. It spent an awfully long time hovering over my immigrant heavy neighborhood and the Home Depot where a lot of day laborers hang out. Tell your interested parties to be cautious, y’all.
John Smith February 20, 2026 (5:04 pm)

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Mint press is not a “far left conspiracy website” lol it’s a very reputable source of news that posts accurate information based on facts and research. They just dont report on stuff that you want to be reported on.

ElDuder February 18, 2026 (7:17 pm)

It’s a DEA helicopter. Lindsey Aviation Services is one of the companies that the DEA uses to register their surveillance aircraft. These aircraft do not show up on flight tracker apps.

Alyssa February 18, 2026 (10:43 pm)

This worried me so much because they were circling over the high point community center for quite a while while a group of break kids and a school group were outside