The temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the Deepwater Horizon spill area only goes from sea level up to 3000 feet. If the plane was over 3000 feet, they were perfectly legal to fly over the spill. And I believe that it is legal to fly in the restricted area under 3000 feet *if* the plane’s filed a flight plan, gets permission from the government, and is under air traffic control.
The TFR was (allegedly) put in place to restrict the amount of low-flying non-spill-related planes and helicopters in the area and cut down the risk of a mid-air collision. If they wanted to really ban coverage of how bad the spill is, they’d have to extend the TFR above 3000 feet, up to, say, 18,000 feet (the maximum altitude you can fly without being under air traffic control) and they’d have to reroute any jet routes that fly over the area. And even then...how do you hide THAT?
}:-)4
Thanks - article I read did not get into those details.