Dearborn city council passed a new rule banning helicopters and manned drones from flying over the annual Ashura procession. The vote comes after years of complaints from residents about noise and traffic disruptions during the religious march.

A helicopter flew over the 2024 march

In July 2024, a black helicopter flew over the Ashura procession near Fordson High School. Religious flags reading "Ya Hussain" in Arabic fluttered from the aircraft, according to videos posted by the Ashura Project and Shia Waves.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said the event organizers had no role in chartering the flight.

"That was a single resident that went and chartered a helicopter, got federal approval and brought it close to the procession," Hammoud said at a May 19 council meeting. "This organization just has the march."

When Council President Michael Sareini asked if the Ashura Project coordinated with the helicopter operator, Hammoud replied, "Zero."

Council moves to block future flights

Sareini introduced an amendment to the resolution approving the procession. The amendment bars any "manned" aircraft from flying in collaboration with the event organizers.

"I don't think helicopters should be flying over these type of situations," Sareini said.

Councilman Mustapha Hammoud raised concerns that a broad ban could also prevent unmanned drones used for photography at community events. Sareini adjusted his language to target only manned aircraft.

"Anything manned in the airspace shall not be allowed in collaboration with the Ashura Project," Sareini said.

The full resolution passed with the amendment added. It also grants a noise waiver for the event and allows the Ashura Project to reimburse the police department for traffic and safety costs.

What the procession is

The 12th annual March for Justice will take place on Sunday, June 28, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along Ford Road. The march is organized by the Ashura Project, a program of the Taha Foundation, a Dearborn Heights nonprofit.

The procession commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad, during the 7th-century Battle of Karbala. Ashura, meaning "tenth," marks the end of 10 days of Shia mourning.

About half of Dearborn's residents are Muslim, making it the city with the highest percentage of Arab American residents in the United States, according to mlive.com.

Police say enforcement happened before

Dearborn Police Commander Vincent Belloli said officers addressed the 2024 helicopter incident at the time.

"We did have an incident in a previous year where an individual had hired a private helicopter to fly over this march. And once that occurred, some notifications were made, and they were moved away from there," Belloli said.

Belloli added that "there might have been some enforcement action." He did not return a call seeking details on whether citations were issued or who operated the helicopter.

Dearborn Corporation Counsel James Carter Fisher noted that while the city does not regulate federal airspace, the council can attach conditions to its approval of public events.

The resolution was read by City Clerk George Darany and passed during the May 19 meeting, according to Detroit Free Press reporter Niraj Warikoo.