Helicopter Illegally Lands on Super Bloom, Upsetting Officials

ANTELOPE VALLEY, CA -- A pilot and passenger are being sought by authorities after they landed a helicopter on a poppy field in the 'super bloom' area on Monday and briefly went for a stroll, according to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve.

In a social media post, the Reserve said that the actions were blatantly against the law.

“We never thought it would be explicitly necessary to state that it is illegal to land a helicopter in the middle of the fields and begin hiking off trail in the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve,” officials said in a Facebook post. “We were wrong.”

According to authorities, after the helicopter landed, two people emerged from it and began on a hike. However, they ran back to the 'copter and flew away after being approached by a law enforcement officer.

Russ Dingman, a spokesman for the reserve, told the Los Angeles Times that staff members are working to identify the chopper and its pilot.

Officials say that for the last three years, including this year, some visitors were less than respectful when it comes to tossing trash, impeding traffic and venturing into the flowers.