What’s Happening? Unusual Air Traffic Surges Over Twin Falls, ID

A number of large aircraft have been flying over Twin Falls and across the Magic Valley today.

Planes and helicopters in the area aren’t unusual, but the size and low altitude of the airplanes today have some people questioning what is happening.

Why Are There Large Planes Flying Over Twin Falls and What Are They Doing

If you haven’t been outside or are in a well-sound-insulated building, you may not have known that today has been a busy one in the air over the Magic Valley. There has been constant traffic of large airplanes in and out of the Magic Valley Regional Airport and heading north.

These planes can be tracked online and with mobile apps. I’ve been using Flight Radar 24 on my phone and the Western Fire Chiefs website to track the movement. These planes are flying out of the Magic Valley Regional Airport and heading north and a little east, straight to the fires burning to the east of Pine and Featherville in the Anderson Ranch Reservoir area.

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There are at least 3 planes that have been working in that area. I’ve watched a Beech King Air 250, a BAe 146-200A, and a McDonnell Douglas MD-87 fly overhead toward the fires. Once they get in the area they circle around dozens of times before heading back.

2 of those planes, the MD-87 and the BAe are known to be aero tankers and are probably dropping fire retardant on the flames to help the fire crews on the ground. The Beech King is often used for air surveillance.

Here are some screenshots of the planes and their flight paths this afternoon.

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