Illinois Mom’s Helicopter Prom Stunt Causes Controversy In Markham

Prom has gotten really extra lately.

These days, it's simply not enough to just ask your crush to prom or go get questionable Italian food with your friends (best way to go, can confirm) before prom. You can't settle for backyard prom photos either.

Now there are promposals, elaborate photoshoots, and it's just all better if you do it as dramatically as you can.

One mom in Markham, Illinois decided she was going to make prom photos to remember and boy did she.

The mom is the chief of the Markham Park District. She wanted a helicopter to land in the background of her daughter's prom pictures.

But right after the helicopter landed, Markham police stepped in.

They were able to get a few pictures of the lovely prom lady, but the chopper flyover that her mother, Quintina Brown, had planned didn't happen, even with the $800 price tag.

Fine Or Not Fine?

Police responding shut it down but then the question became 'wait was this fine for her to do?'.

Some people are totally agreeing that she was within her rights to do it, as long as there was room for the helicopter to land. Some are agreeing with the police response to end it. Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa, who has flown helicopters before, said:

I’ve landed them in neighborhoods. We’ve always had medical people on standby. We’ve had the fire department on standby. We’ve had spotters. We’ve had distances that were safe, that we knew that those propellers would not harm anyone.

But, the mayor says they just didn't have warning of this stunt.

Both the mom and the chopper pilot got citations for the stunt. The Village of Markham is also considering legal options.