Air Force One scares the crap out of NYC!

[Papazita]

http://news.aol.com/article/planes-manhattan/447862

Well, technically not Air Force One, since you-know-who was not on board, but a Defense Department 747/VC-25, the same used to fly the President.

The flyover by the 747, plus an accompanying F-16 escort, occured around 10am this morning over Manhattan, near the World Trade Center site; prompting a brief panic on the ground. Many offices workers panciked and fled from their buildings, fearing a repeat of 9/11.

A US Air Force spokeswoman called the flyover part of an "aerial photo mission."

Although the FAA says it notified city law enforcement, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is furious that he was not informed by the NYPD or a second unnamed agency, and says he would have tried to stop it if he had known.

Sen. Charles Schumer strongly criticized the FAA for the incident, saying "This was a photo shoot. There was no need for surprise," Schumer said. "There was no need to scare thousands of New Yorkers who still have the vivid memory of 9/11."

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said he had no information on the flying photo op.


A 747 flyover at the World Trade Center site? Who's mind-numbingly stupid idea was that?

From the article, it appears that the only agencies involved were the USAF and FAA.
Yeah, great publicity move, guys!

[Papazita]

I'll just assume the lack of comments is symbolic of the the DoD and FAA's current stance on this.

[NJL]

i thought it was in poor taste for the AF to fly that low in NYC, very poor taste.

[Happynoj]

Anyone else think that this is a little bit funny or is it just me?

[Papazita]

Originally Posted by Happynoj

Anyone else think that this is a little bit funny or is it just me?

I'm usually the first to laugh at humor in poor taste, but I don't see anything funny here. Just massive stupidity and callousness.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

I seen this earlier.
My thoughts were more like: WTH were they thinking!

From the AP
WASHINGTON (Associated Press) -- An administration official says a presidential Boeing 747 and a fighter jet flew low near ground zero in New York City Monday because the White House Military Office wanted to update its file photo of the president's plane near the Statue of Liberty.

This official said the White House Military Office told the Federal Aviation Administration that it periodically updates file photos of Air Force One near national landmarks, like the statute in New York harbor and the Grand Canyon.

The official requested anonymity to give more details than the official White House announcement that took the blame.

The incident on Monday caused a brief panic among workers, who weren't warned. They recalled the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.


In this image taken with a cell phone by Jason McLane, the primary presidential aircraft, a Boeing 747 known as Air Force One when the president is aboard, flies low over New York Harbor, followed by an F-16 chase plane during a federal government photo op Monday, April 27, 2009. A low-flying Boeing 747 escorted by two fighter jets as part of a federal government photo opportunity over lower Manhattan caused a brief panic among workers near ground zero on Monday. (AP Photo/Jason McLane)[/i]

They needed an updated photo of Air Force One?
Glad our tax dollars are going to good use in these hard economic times.

[NJL]

maybe the AF is downplaying something?

[tplyons]

I think it's ignorant on their part to not inform the residents and workers of the city.

I must reiterate that I knew several people killed, my girlfriend at the time's father was supposed to be there and my dad's office overlooked Ground Zero for quite some time.

[Papazita]

"The White House apologized Monday after one of Barack Obama's presidential planes flew alarmingly low over New York city, sending residents into a panic and triggering fears of a new 9/11.

"While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, it's clear that the mission created confusion and disruption," said Louis Caldera, director of the White House military office.

"I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused," he said in a statement, adding that he approved the mission over New York -- described by other officials as a photo opportunity -- last week.

"I take responsibility for that decision," he added.

The mea culpa could be seen as extraordinary, given the infrequency of public statements by the White House military office and the bluntness of the apology over the bungle.

Caldera described it as an "Air Force One flight over New York," although that designation is strictly used to describe the specific plane on which the US president is flying.

The White House said Obama was not on the flight.

The jumbo, escorted by low-flying fighter jets, roared over southern Manhattan and the Hudson River for about 30 minutes, prompting panicked New Yorkers to evacuate office buildings.

A livid New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he had not been warned and called the lack of notice "ridiculous and poor judgment."

Stunned office workers who failed to spot the presidential markings feared facing a repeat of the September 11, 2001, attacks in which two hijacked airliners smashed into the World Trade Center, killing almost 3,000 people."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090427...xerciseapology

[dangnewt]

What a bad idea.
Are you telling me that no one mentioned that this might not be a good idea while they were planning it? I would not want to be the person who greenlighted this particular brainfart in spite of the pretty obvious problems.


Even if you went the other way and gave plenty of notice - that has its own set of downsides (a target for the bad guys, a huge distraction for anyone trying to get a work done).

[Papazita]

[Happynoj]

Originally Posted by Papazita

I'm usually the first to laugh at humor in poor taste, but I don't see anything funny here. Just massive stupidity and callousness.

Ah, OK. Well I'm just going to use the excuse that I'm not American and therefore was not as bothered by 9/11 as most Americans seem to be. In fact, not really bothered at all, but that's an argument/flaming for a different day.

[dancehallclasher]

Originally Posted by Papazita

Stunned office workers who failed to spot the presidential markings feared facing a repeat of the September 11, 2001, attacks

it doesn't matter if it is Air Force One or not, they should be worried anyway! Didn't they see the movie? Harrison Ford might kick a terrorist out of it at any moment and if that guy lands on your head you're boned.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by tplyons

I think it's ignorant on their part to not inform the residents and workers of the city.

I think the main problem was a break down in communication. Yeah, locals it should have been known it was going to happen.

[Relic]

pretty stupid move really.

[Steve]

Breathtaking stupidity.

Made even worse by the fact that there must have been literally hundreds of people in a position to question that idea before the plane took off who chose to say nothing.

Or worse, said something and got ignored.

[machine gewehr]

I wonder how many people pissed their pants when they saw the plane in that tower.

What do you know,maybe next week Japans fly over hiroshima with a B-29.That'd be out of date but still be pretty tastless.

Some people need a lil' slapping there man.

[Relic]

It's like a really bad practical joke...
it kind of reminds me of:

[fo shizzle]

Originally Posted by Happynoj

Ah, OK. Well I'm just going to use the excuse that I'm not American and therefore was not as bothered by 9/11 as most Americans seem to be. In fact, not really bothered at all, but that's an argument/flaming for a different day.

Free tip: Make it your new policy that you read your post 3 times before you click "submit reply".

People all over the world were horrified by the events that day. The fact that you aren't "bothered" by it doesn't make you cool or interesting.

More sociopathic, maybe.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Happynoj

Ah, OK. Well I'm just going to use the excuse that I'm not American and therefore was not as bothered by 9/11 as most Americans seem to be. In fact, not really bothered at all, but that's an argument/flaming for a different day.