Don’t worry about that low-flying helicopter near the Alexandria border, Arlington County says

A helicopter flying at a low altitude over the Arlington-Alexandria border is nothing to worry about, according to Arlington County.

“The Arlington County Emergency Communications Center has received many calls regarding a low flying helicopter along Four Mile Run Creek,” the county said in an Arlington Alert this morning. “The FAA is aware and has given permission for a contractor to conduct this flight.”

Concern about the mysterious chopper has also been registered on the Alexandria side of the border.

Random helicopter in Alexandria by 4 Mile Run. #alexandria #arlington #helicopter pic.twitter.com/6JDPO7PYPI

— Oleksandr Faryga (@OFaryga) February 23, 2022

The helicopter belongs to a Utah company called TXPX Aircraft Solutions, according to the FAA. A 2020 post from a New Jersey locality’s website suggests that it’s used for inspecting power transmission lines.

“The helicopter will be flying at a speed of about 35-40 mph above or alongside the lines and may circle around for a closer inspection,” that post said. “The helicopter is black with red [lettering and] tail number N500LK.”

As seen in the photos and video above, there are power transmission lines that indeed run along Four Mile Run and the W&OD Trail.

N500LK, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369-E, is circling over Douglas Park, Arlington at 500 feet, speed 77 MPH, squawking 5226, 0.0 miles from South 4-Mile Run Community Garden https://t.co/AsrciY91li pic.twitter.com/YNOSB80WXz

— Advisory Circular DC (@SkyCirclesDC) February 23, 2022

James Cullum contributed to this report