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Air Force One plane scares New York

— Photo AP

Nightmarish: A cell phone image shows a Boeing 747 known as Air Force One when the President is aboard flying low over New York Harbour, followed by an F-16 chase plane on Monday.

NEW YORK: It was supposed to be a photo opportunity that captured images of an Air Force One plane with a majestic Statue of Liberty in the background. Instead, it turned into a public relations nightmare that led to recriminations from the president and Mayor and prompted thousands to ask: “What were they thinking?”

Just before the workday began on Monday, an airliner and supersonic fighter jet zoomed past the lower Manhattan skyline.

Within minutes, startled financial workers streamed out of their offices, fearing a nightmarish replay of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

For a half-hour, the Boeing 747 and F-16 jet circled the Statue of Liberty and the Financial District near the site of the destroyed World Trade Centre. Offices evacuated. Dispatchers were inundated with calls.

But the flyover was nothing but a photo op, apparently one of a series of flights to get pictures of the plane in front of national landmarks.

It was carried out by the Defence Department with little warning, infuriating New York officials and putting the White House on the defence. Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg did not know about it, and he later called it “insensitive” to fly so near the site of the attacks.

The director of the White House military office, Louis Caldera, took the blame a few hours later. One of the planes was a 747 that is called Air Force One when used by the President. “Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision,” said Mr. Caldera. “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. I apologise and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused.”

When told of the flight, President Barack Obama was furious, a White House official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Still, federal officials provided few details and would not say why the public and area building security managers weren’t notified. They also would not address why someone thought it was a wise decision to send two jets into New York City, all for a few photos with the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop. — AP

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