Around New England

Military Flights Over Northern Vermont Dramatically Increase

April 26, 2020

A military wing of the Vermont Air National Guard flew five times as many flights from its base in South Burlington late March and early April as it did the previous weeks.

During early and mid-March the number of flights fluctuated between six and eight a week, but that number spiked to 42 between March 29 and April 4, according to data obtained by Seven Days.

A military spokesman initially said there was no change in operations, but an officer later clarified that six fighter jets and their crews recently returned to the base after several weeks of training in Florida, according to Seven Days.

Area residents spending more time that usual at home have complained about the noise, to the point where the Burlington City Council voted 11-1 to call for Air National Guard flights to cease during the coronavirus emergency — something Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, has refused to do, according to Seven Days.