A Boeing airplane escorted by a military jet flew low over lower Manhattan on Monday, frightening office workers and spurring evacuations in what turned out to be a U.S. government-approved publicity operation.
The maneuvering of the 747, which circled around some skyscrapers, recalled memories of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which resulted in the deaths of thousands after two hijacked commercial airplanes rammed into the World Trade Center. Onlookers and evacuated workers said they were incredulous that government agencies didn't issue an advisory to alert a public still scarred from 9/11.
The U.S. Air Force confirmed that an "aerial photo mission," which involved an F-16 fighter jet, had been carried out Monday in the area of New York City by the Presidential Airlift Group, which according to the White House Web site is responsible for maintaining and operating presidential airliner Air Force One.
"This mission was conducted in conjunction with normally scheduled continuation training for assigned aircrew members," the Air Force said in a statement. The mission was scheduled to last from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. EDT.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg blasted the move near the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which crashed two jets into the World Trade Center. He says the photo-op showed "poor judgment" and was insensitive.
The White House says it doesn't have any information about the Boeing 747's flying photo op over lower Manhattan that sent Manhattan into a panic. The plane is a version of the 747 that's called Air Force One when the president is aboard.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday that he doesn't have time to keep track of the planes used as Air Force One. He says he didn't have any information about why the presidential aircraft and its Air Force fighter jet escort were flying near the Statue of Liberty.
LOL
Way to go Obama , nothing like scaring the shit out of New Yorkers with allowing a plane to fly real low around the city. Whats even worse, the retards in the WH are totally clueless.
The maneuvering of the 747, which circled around some skyscrapers, recalled memories of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which resulted in the deaths of thousands after two hijacked commercial airplanes rammed into the World Trade Center. Onlookers and evacuated workers said they were incredulous that government agencies didn't issue an advisory to alert a public still scarred from 9/11.
The U.S. Air Force confirmed that an "aerial photo mission," which involved an F-16 fighter jet, had been carried out Monday in the area of New York City by the Presidential Airlift Group, which according to the White House Web site is responsible for maintaining and operating presidential airliner Air Force One.
"This mission was conducted in conjunction with normally scheduled continuation training for assigned aircrew members," the Air Force said in a statement. The mission was scheduled to last from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. EDT.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg blasted the move near the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which crashed two jets into the World Trade Center. He says the photo-op showed "poor judgment" and was insensitive.
The White House says it doesn't have any information about the Boeing 747's flying photo op over lower Manhattan that sent Manhattan into a panic. The plane is a version of the 747 that's called Air Force One when the president is aboard.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday that he doesn't have time to keep track of the planes used as Air Force One. He says he didn't have any information about why the presidential aircraft and its Air Force fighter jet escort were flying near the Statue of Liberty.
LOL
Way to go Obama , nothing like scaring the shit out of New Yorkers with allowing a plane to fly real low around the city. Whats even worse, the retards in the WH are totally clueless.