Mike DeWine's helicopter returns to Columbus the day of his death penalty call

Mike DeWine's state-owned helicopter, an Airbus H125 registered N71HP, was tracked departing Clermont County Airport (KI69) at 5:40 PM UTC on June 30 and landing at Ohio State University Airport (KOSU) roughly two hours later. The aircraft, operated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, typically handles shorter-range official travel for the governor and state officials.

If aboard, Mike DeWine would have returned to Columbus the same day he publicly called for an end to the death penalty in Ohio, per an AP News report published Tuesday. The 79-year-old Republican cited his experience as a former prosecutor and attorney general in urging lawmakers to repeal a law he helped write four decades ago. The announcement marks a notable shift from his earlier support of capital punishment.

The flight is consistent with the governor's pattern of using state aircraft for official business. A Y-City News investigation earlier found that DeWine's fixed-wing King Air 350i averages about one flight per week across Ohio, while the helicopter fleet is also used for disaster surveys and regional visits. The Clermont County destination may have involved a separate official event earlier in the day.