FAA Memo: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic

CBS via Drudge Report ^ | 4/28/2009

[GVnana]

FAA Memo: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic
Threatened Federal Sanctions Against NYPD, Secret Service, FBI & Mayor's Office If Secret Ever Got Out

Furious Obama Apologizes: "It Will Never Happen Again"

CBS News Interactive: Sept. 11 And Since Reporting Marcia Kramer NEW YORK (CBS) ―

An F-16 fighter jet trails a larger military aircraft over Lower Manhattan Monday, April 27, 2009, conducting a photo shoot that panicked thousands of New Yorkers who believed the city was in jeopardy for another terrorist attack.

Dozens of people evacuated outside 17 State Street after military jets were seen escorting a 747 in Manhattan on April 27, 2009.

A furious President Barack Obama ordered an internal review of Monday's low-flying photo op over the Statue of Liberty.

CBS 2 HD has discovered the feds will have plenty to question.

Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the photo-op kept secret from the public.

In a memo obtained by CBS 2 HD the Federal Aviation Administration's James Johnston said the agency was aware of "the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes" in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor's office and threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out.

[DrewsMum]

Thank you. It is quite frustrating. It’s like they want everyone to just be quiet and pretend that the obvious isn’t happening. They are conservative, but I don’t think they realize just how much ANTI-CONSERVATIVE that he is...

[Yossarian]

I'm not going to believe this was a photoshoot until I see the bloody GD photos.

And as another FReeper pointed out, who's going to use a single-seat F-16 as a camera platform?!?

Here's the scenario - Mr. Red-Tail Fighter Pilot is going :

• to be holding up the SLR with one hand,
• while he's got the stick in the other,
• flying in tight formation around the most iconic and expensive plane in the world,
• in low altitude over the city with the most high-rises,
• taking the time to frame the scene through the viewfinder, and
• holding the camera still while he gets the shot.

Yeah, right. What utter BS. Unless I see the shots, I'm calling this one a joyride for an arrogant VIP.

[ponygirl]

The problem isn't with him being Anti-Conservative. It's his Anti-Americanism that rubs me the wrong way.

That, and his horse-faced wife.

[BigSkyFreeper]

That or he’ll start dumping all over the Air Force for creating such utter chaos and panic. He takes great joy in dumping on the military as it is.

[zot]

From Wikipedia: Louis Caldera (born April 1, 1956) served as United States Secretary of the Army from July 2, 1998–January 20, 2001, the 17th man to hold that office. He is currently serving in the Obama administration as Director of the White House Military Office, responsible for all military support for White House operations.

[cookcounty]

"Fighters can photograph but the quality sucks. There are better platforms to take pictures from. I submit to you that da bigg 0 loaned AF1 to one or more of his buddies for a fly-by and he will soon be outed."

You may be right, maybe there was another photo plane? The fighter is tailing AF-One. That would be a crappy shot. .

Somehow the photo-op story just seems odd to me.

[ponygirl]

Yeah, right. What utter BS. Unless I see the shots, I'm calling this one a joyride for an arrogant VIP.

Guess AF-1 is the new Lincoln Bedroom... if the price is right.

[cookcounty]

Where was Obama during the duration of the flight? Where was Michelle?

Why do WE have to think up the questions for our lazy press corps?

[Senormechanico]

soros?

[VlPu]

At the moment of the impact, suicide pilot Steve “X” is NOT kenyan. He has a british passport and the name is “Hussein Obama II”.
*** HORRIBLE TRUTH *** about ‘Obama’ overflying New York and “Human Cattle” freaking out
1. Search for Obama here:
http://engforum.pravda.ru/showthread.php?t=248354

2. Do not click the first result below, before you got what is explained in step 1.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=suicide+obomber

[D-fendr]

Obama pimps his ride.

[cookcounty]

Take them to Romans 13 and then inform them we live in a democracy, not a monarchy or a Roman Empire. In a Democracy a citizen, if he is a good citizen, is OBLIGATED to make his opinions known to both the authorities and the electorate. To fail in this is to allow others, by default, to oppress others.

Explain to them that silent obedient types made Hitler possible.

[matthew fuller]

"THIS was an Act of TERROR WROUGHT on ALL NEW YORKERS BY ZERO, HIMSELF! "

AMEN! Are you idiot New Yorkers gonna vote for this muslim again?

[matthew fuller]

"That’s it! I’d bet a whole bucket of chicken and waffles it was either Fidel or Chavez!"

I'll call that bet and raise you two watermelons and a gallon of ice cream and say that it was George Soros.

[M1911A1]

He’d throw anyone under the bus to save his hide...look at what he did to dear old Grandma, the white racist.

I think some VIP tourists were on that plane. I bet the line of thinking was, “Hey, they’ve used the plane for photo ops before, let’s do that and we’ll put so-and-so on for the ride!”

Once they get in the air, somebody with enough pull to put the pilot’s butt in a sling if there was a refusal, “requests” that they do some sightseeing.

A quick google image search shows pictures of AF1 going past Mt. Rushmore, but I couldn’t find any credit for the photo, as you would expect to see if it was DOD...in fact, I saw at least one site selling the image.

It might be public domain, or it might have been taken by Boeing before they handed it the aircraft over...it would be very interesting to get the particulars behind that Mt. Rushmore photo op. When was it taken? Were there fighter escorts then? Who took the pictures, and from what aircraft?

Someone with some knowledge of who owns the pictures should be able to shed a lot of light on how and why they are taken.

It would also be interesting to see if the schedules for Dem VIPs can be checked to see if any of them were free for the time that the flight took place...

[kik5150]

This whole story doesn’t pass the smell test. I am a commercially licensed pilot but I don’t know the procedures with Air force one in such airspace. normally an aircraft would be under the control of the ATC Center. There should be a recording of the transmissions between the center and the aircraft. I would sure like to hear these tapes. If they refer to the plane as “Air Force One” then it would mean that the President was aboard. If the F-16’s where there to take photos then why were they in trail? What about the steep bank angles? It looked more like they were turning on a point. Any commercial/military pilots out there who know more about these procedures?

[matthew fuller]

"if we make a light hearted joke about the size of the stimulus for example."

So far, his stimulus appears to be HUGH!

[matthew fuller]

"That, and his horse-faced wife. "

That, and his bow-legged horse-faced terrorist wife. amendment 1.

[BigSkyFreeper]

AF1 doesn’t need a fighter escort. It’s capable of defending itself if it comes under attack.