FAA says low-flying plane over Staten Island is 'pre-planned' flight to take photos

http://www.silive.com/news/index ^

[LottieDah]

FAA says low-flying plane over Staten Island is 'pre-planned' flight to take photos by Staten Island Advance Monday April 27, 2009, 10:03 AM

A plane, that appears to be a commercial jet tailed by fighter jets, is a "pre-planned" military flight taking photos of the Statue of Liberty, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Reports indicate it may be Air Force One.

"It is pre-planned, pre-coordinated with everyone involved," said FAA spokesman Jim Peters. "It's a military flight over New York to take photos."

Peters, who stressed it is not an emergency, said the flight is circling the Statue of Liberty and New York City to take photos.

Peters said city officials as well as state government agencies in New York and New Jersey were briefed on the flight in advance.

[Velveeta]

Air Force One Photo Opp Triggers Panic in Manhattan

***System of Notifying the Public Broke Down, Officials Say***

~snip~

Although the shoot was authorized, the normal system of public notification broke down, multiple officials said. “It scared a couple of million people,” one airport official said.

According to officials, the flight — authorized by the FAA — came in as low as 1000 feet to 150 feet above the city as it made a large circle over Manhattan,

~snip~
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7439287&page=1

Translated: officials in CYA mode

[mojitojoe]

Obama out for a joyride.Reggie,get me a grilled cheese and
some fries!
______________
It’s the only time he and Reggie can get time alone.

[jennyjenny]

OMG! That is beyond irresponsible. And WTH were the police told not to disclose this was going to happen?

[mplsconservative]

I saw your previous post about this being for a movie. WTH?

[jersey117]

NYC Financial Workers See Low-Flying Planes, Panic

NEW YORK (AP) — 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.

John Leitner, a floor trader at the New York Mercantile Exchange Building, said workers received no official prior announcement about the exercise. He said everyone panicked when they saw the low-flying planes and began running out of the building, mere blocks from the former World Trade Center site, around 10 a.m......

http://www.1010wins.com/Low-Flying-Planes-Cause-Panic/4279141

[Velveeta]

Most of the reports that I’ve been reading state the police didn’t know.

[Vendome]

What a bunch of A**holes. That plane looks menacing and banking in the manner it was with a jet fighter behind it.

Stupid Jerks!!

[hoosier hick]

Probably some of Obama’s supporters getting a presidential perk....

hh

[Sig Sauer P220]

Every day brings something else despicable from the zero administration. Every day!

[Velveeta]

People could have been injured trying to flee the buildings.
Not to mention potential heart failure from those in the situation.

Seriously, I’m in Chicago and my blood pressure is sky high!

[penelopesire]

I just left a comment at the NYT..lol. “It’s just a campaign commercial for Obama, What’s the big deal?”

LOL..that ought to stir up some interest.

[OneVike]

I agree this whole thing smells of Chicago chicanery.

I really miss the good old days with Bud grant. I guess I'm dating myself, huh?

I left Minnesota 25 years ago and never looked back other than to watch the Vikings, but I do it via TIVO. The only way to watch TV.

[mplsconservative]

Welcome to sitcom world. Who in the h*ll authorized this? Menacing is right. Was it the government or some movie deal. WTH is going on?

[jersey117]

Wow. I just watched the video. What a totally irresponsible stunt to pull near Ground Zero.

[Velveeta]

It was absolutely irresponsible.

[Kakaze]

It would not surprise me to learn it was a stunt for a video lead in to B. Husseins, 100 days address in two days.

Arrogant.

[ETL]

From the New York Times:
“Later on Monday morning, the Police Department acknowledged that it had been notified about the event but said it had been barred from alerting the public.”

Thanks for the update/link. I heard the same a little while ago on the radio. Maybe the Obama admin were trying to gather data on how afraid New Yorkers still are of 911-type attacks. /s

[milford421]

No, neither do I. That plane was way low. Who was taking the pictures of this supposed, “photo op”?

Also, if the NYPD knew of this stunt and notified business owners AFTERWARDS by e-mail, why didn’t they let these same owners know ahead of time if this thing was planned?

[mplsconservative]

Bud Grant is a good guy. Surprise, he is a conservative too. I wish Tony Dungy wouldn’t have left. I wanted him to be head coach, back in the day.

[Churchillspirit]

.....damned unkind to those in manhattan.

So right.