Bulger flown by copter to Boston for hearings

BOSTON — A Coast Guard helicopter has flown reputed mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger to Boston for his latest set of hearings in federal court.

Twice before, Bulger had been driven the approximately 40 miles from the jail in Plymouth where he’s being held.

On Thursday, he was flown to Logan International Airport in a Coast Guard helicopter. Video from TV stations showed Bulger, shackled and wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, getting off the helicopter and being led into a van. He was then driven to the courthouse.

Bulger has two hearings as he seeks a taxpayer-funded attorney and fights a move by prosecutors to dismiss a racketeering indictment in favor of a later case charging him with participating in 19 murders.

Bulger was arrested in Santa Monica, Calif., last week after 16 years as a fugitive.