Five helicopters landed on the intramural fields located on South Green Sunday afternoon, only to leave minutes later.
Ohio University Police Department Chief Andrew Powers said he could not comment on whether the helicopters had any relation to President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to Athens on Wednesday.
“It was a practicing of maneuvers,” Powers said. “It was a very short practice.”
Students playing football on the field at the time were asked to leave by OUPD, said Shane Elkins, a freshman studying accounting.
“We had no idea what was going on,” Elkins said. “We just saw a bunch of (police cars and fire trucks) surrounding the area (while playing football). We had a sense that something was going to land here.”
Elkins described the helicopters as massive in size, one being grey and the remainder green.
The helicopters landed quickly, staying only about five minutes before leaving, said Steven Davidson, a freshman studying sports management.
“Dust was kicking up everywhere," Davidson said. "It really looked like something out of a movie."
