Two erroneous narratives the media is pushing:
1. Because the local police helicopters were not operating due to weather, it was unsafe for any helicopter to be operating in the area. At the NTSB briefing this evening, the sheriff specifically said it was unsafe to operate his helicopters due to weather.
2. Because ATC said that N72EX’s altitude was too low for flight following, N72EX was too low to be operating safely.