Gregor said the temporary flight ban was in place for the air demonstration team's 9 a.m. practice performance, and the Marine Corps chopper "got into the practice area," Gregor said.

"But the T-Bird pilots said they saw the helicopter and had him in sight all the time so there was no near mid-air collision," Gregor said. Gregor said a civilian chopper also violated the air space and will be investigated.

The Thunderbirds' six red, while and blue F-16 fighters wowed thousands who gathered on the beach in the vicinity of Fort DeRussy, performing practice runs from the ocean and flying mauka over Fort DeRussy's park area, and over a sea-area "showbox" that paralleled the beach.

The morning flights, which were over by 10 a.m., were to familiarize Thunderbird pilots with flightlines and landmarks, and consisted of loose formations and some close-quarters flying.

A refined version of the practice run is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today over Waikiki, along with an Arizona Memorial flyover at 700 feet that the FAA approved.

The last time the Thunderbirds performed in Waikiki was 1997. The aerial team also put on a show over Hickam Air Force Base in 2003.