A jumbo jetliner that serves as Air Force One, escorted by a military jet, flew over Lower Manhattan Monday morning, frightening office workers and causing evacuations in what turned out to be a publicity operation approved by a unit of the U.S. Air Force.
Louis Caldera, Director of the White House Military Office, took responsibility for the incident, saying he approved the “mission” last week. “Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision,” he said, “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 apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused.”
He provided no details on the purpose of the flight. At around 10 a.m. EDT, a Boeing 747 was seen accompanied by an F-16 fighter jet flying low over the southern tip of Manhattan and at one point seen circling the Goldman Sachs Tower in nearby Jersey City, N.J.
The circling planes were part of a “photo op,” a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said.
The larger plane was one of two highly customized Boeing 747-200 series aircraft that serve as Air Force One when the commander in chief is on board. Technically, “Air Force One” is the call sign of any Air Force aircraft carrying the president. But President Barack Obama wasn’t aboard the plane Monday. “I’m annoyed — furious is a better word — that I wasn’t told,” Mr. Bloomberg said, calling the photo opportunity “ill considered” and “badly conceived.” He added that the federal government’s decision to stage such an event near the World Trade Center “defies good judgment.” He added that if he had known about the decision he would have worked to get it reversed.
The low-flying 747 sent workers worried about a repeat of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks fleeing their offices in the New York City area.
Traders bolted from the floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange after seeing the jets. The exchange, which sits on the east bank of the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan and is blocks from the site of the terrorist-destroyed World Trade Center, didn’t order an evacuation.
People trading oil, natural gas and other commodities on the Nymex floor apparently took no chances. A Nymex security official was “literally standing, holding his hands up in a calming gesture. Guys were running right past him,” said Pete Donovan, a vice president at Vantage Trading in the crude-futures ring.
But several buildings in the area were ordered evacuated, although workers quickly returned after it became clear that the flyover was a planned event. Construction workers fled the 43-story headquarters for Goldman Sachs Group Inc., currently under construction across the street from the trade center site. Gia Moron, a spokeswoman for Goldman, one of the largest businesses in Lower Manhattan, said: “We did not receive a heads up. Our security officers were advised after it happened.”
Wow, what an incredibly stupid thing to do. I’ll bet the people in Goldman Sachs Tower were cleaning out their pants. Heads should definitely roll on this one.
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What a radical decision — allow a low-altitude fly-over of a large jumbo jet followed by a fighter in Manhattan.
“I’m annoyed — furious is a better word — that I wasn’t told,” Mr. Bloomberg said, calling the photo opportunity “ill considered” and “badly conceived.”
What immeasurable tact. My comment would have read, “$%#^&er what g#(*^&ed idiot decided this was a f^&*%$ good idea? Someone is gonna f*&^%$ die over this.”
Oh someone high up is going to get the lead boot (not golden parachute).
Now, where can I get prints?
“Escape from New York II” coming soon to a theatre near you!
I’m glad we have an Administration that has some common sense. ROLF
It’s funny when you think how many in New York voted for this major embarrassment of a president. Psych! Made you look.
Sometimes the people do get what they deserve.
Photo Op? The visibility was way too hazy for a clear picture. I call BS.
Yeah, not a bright move on Obama’s part.
Bloomberg has all the right to be pissed off.
It look’s like Obama is so enjoying the encoutrements of office, he has lost touch with the every day reality of everyone else.
… still waiting for the Obamanauts to tell us that George Bush is to blame …
I got to admit this was a stupid move on whoever approved this thing.
Not as bad as when Bush personally approved flying an atom bomb across the country but Obama has nothing to do with this one.
“Airplane III: NYC Changes Its Underwear!”
If I were the prez its exactly the thing I would do, and I’d do it at 500 feet…
Get over it.
What the heck happened to having a little fun!
So, no one noticed the NYC officials knew about this for a week. Do any of you read English?
#13 Good point.
Why didn’t Republican mayor Bloomberg (and 20th wealthiest person in America)alert the citizens of New York City? I now think he should resign immediately.
#14 Dallas said, “Why didn’t Republican mayor Bloomberg (and 20th wealthiest person in America)alert the citizens of New York City?”
You are as bright as that burn-out bulb in the White House. Alert the citizens and you alert the enemy. Imagine if they took advantage catching everyone off guard say 20 minutes earlier with a real attack catching all like sitting ducks.
This is why democrats make lousy tacticians as proven by this stunt and your stupid remark.
#15 No Alfred, President Obama is not involved in trivial shit like taking photos of NYC. He is way too busy cleaning up after President Cheney.
He was however, involved personally in the pirate situation and was one of the SEAL snipers. Contrast that too fat ass Cheney who shot one of his friends in the face.
Dear Leader Obama,
Here’s how to save some money – stop useless photo ops.
this sums it up
(Louis Caldera, Director of the White House Military Office, took responsibility for the incident, saying he approved the “mission” last week. “Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision,” he said, “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 apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused.”)
mistake made, buck stopped on the right desk, apology made & accepted, lessons learned. move along nothing to see.
come-on people we have the fear of a new pandemic to feed the 24hr news cycle start shaking.
Alfred1
“You cannot have it both ways…either Obama is the greatest hands on savior ever seen…and therefore he is personally involved with every decision…or he just doesn’t know what is going on…therefore, in over his head”
ya like the president micromanages the photo opps of every one and every thing. The Discovery channel was out filming in front of the White House yesterday something about an Easter Egg hidden 1972 just being found, I’m certain Obama approved the script.
man you sure like to read your self type
get a life
like I said over in Teabagger arrested for Twittering
“Alfred1 the adults are talking please keep it down.”
I want to say something about the competence of the current administration on full display – but Cheney actually gave the order, right after he stopped Obama’s teleprompter the other day.
Yep, like Bush, O’Mama is responsible for everything that happens in his Administration.
Here are some quotes from the Associated Press Article.
>>
“Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision,” Caldera said. “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 apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused.
The FAA notified the New York Police Department of the flyover, telling them photos of the Air Force One jet would be taken about 1,500 feet above the Statue of Liberty around 10 a.m. Monday. It had a classified footnote that said “information in this document shall not be released to the public or the media.”
The FAA also alerted an official in the mayor’s office, but he didn’t tell Bloomberg, who said he first learned about it when his “BlackBerry went off crazy with people complaining about it.”
The Bloomberg official who was notified was Marc Mugnos, director of operations for the Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management. Mugnos didn’t immediately respond to questions about why he didn’t tell the mayor; Bloomberg’s spokesman Stu Loeser issued a statement saying: “He has been reprimanded and a disciplinary letter will be placed in his file.”
<<
Louis Caldera Takes responsibility, New York City Police screw up and an aid to the mayor forgets to do his job.
Yes, definitely Obama’s fault.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fCPvc0r_sIc
Hey, maybe this was a dress rehearsal for President Hussein’s own private jihad. You it was the Northern Elite that profited from all the slave trade!
If he’s going to take out some more rich upper crust Northern Liberals, maybe we could convince him to take out San Francisco and the alternative lifestyle hypocrites of diversity that live in California…….actually maybe we could just get rid of New York and California …..Oh well, just hoping that President Hussein’s hatred could be turned to a useful project.
He’ll probably just import more Mexican Trash into the country, then every Progressive Liberal Demoncrat can have their own personnel Hispanic maid and feel more like they live in Jefferson’s episode and they are the benevolent great WHITE lord in the Great House. What a joke. 🙁
Whatever…………………
Traaxx
#25, True on SO many levels.
The country’s in the very best of hands.
Let me channel Adam Curry:
It was a deliberate test to see how people would react. Bloomberg was probably in on it too.
Government is acting very strange these days everything is so fear driven one crisis after another you know the headlines,but this is just stupid and reckless.
So that makes airplanes and giant gorillas, unwelcome in NY?
President Obama,
This incident concerns me. Not for the fact that a plane flew low to NYC, well, yes, that concerns me. But what astonishes me is the lack of communication. How in the hell do you schedule a photo op and do not let the mayor of the city know about it. I just don’t get it. Did you feel that the Mayor’s Office just did not warrant the courtesy to be informed about this. You should be talking to the mayor (directly) on something like this. Not his staff who obviously needs to be fired. Who works for the Mayor and doesn’t mention this?
It sounds like the same old routine of “just do it and ask for forgiveness later”. I think that is what happened. Your staff knew that if they let the public know about this before hand that it would have probably never happened. What is the purpose of the photo op anyway? Our country is in dire need of your leadership to get us out of the “hole” that Mr. Bush has dug and yet this shit happens.
If you want to be President another 4 years after this term, don’t let this happen again. Which I am sure it won’t after this incident.
I also want to add that I believe in you. Get your butt on national TV and apologize to the American public, afterall that’s who elected you to run this country. We have faith in you, but don’t hide behind your staff. Apologize Now!
Joe Plumber
I hate Obama, but where in any of the reporting does it say he made the decision to do this? I find that impossible to believe.
Meanwhile, Rahm Emanuel on the ground points to the sky and yells to his boss —-
“De Plane, boss, De Plane”.
Fantasy White House is coming to a nation near you. Watch while they manufacture digital money out of Thin Air.
See them shoot down corporate CEO’s with a single finger.
Experience the giving of money to banks hand over fist, so De Boss can bend them to his will.
After all, when each guest is paying $50,000 for a 3 day stay on Fantasy Island – They deserve a miricle…..
BOHICA my friends. BOHICA…
Why wouldn’t you tell anyone? Something along these lines:
“The Air Force will be doing a fly by around Manhattan”…
It would have been nice that us New Yorkers, could have been prepared to take pictures of the event, and been surprised that it was Air Force 1.
I guess it HAD to be classified since some VIP (or some one that thinks they are a VIP – Obama’s kids? – extended family? ) was on-board and was given a personal fly by tour on the American dime. – Then again, what is a dime worth these days.