Posted on 04/27/2009 7:30:01 AM PDT by 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.
This administration owes a major apology to those workers in downtown NYC and Jersey city.
LETTER FROM NYC COUNCIL TO FAA:
Lynne A. Osmus
Acting Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue Southwest
Room 1010
Washington D.C. 20591
Dear Ms. Osmus:
New Yorkers were surprised to see a low-flying aircraft trailed by two fighter planes near lower Manhattan this morning, and even more surprised to hear that it had been authorized by the FAA.
This aerial mission which took place without any prior notice to most New Yorkers caused unnecessary fear, and forced thousands to evacuate their buildings in both New York and New Jersey. In light of the heightened sensitivity to low-flying commercial planes in the New York City area, we would expect that the FAA would not allow military aircraft to accompany what appeared to be a commercial jet unless there was a pressing military need.
To the contrary, the mission has been described alternately as a “photo op” and an “aerial photo mission,” neither of which would have prevented advance notice to the public. It is our further understanding that The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates our bridges, tunnels and airports, also had no advance knowledge of the mission.
Because they were caught off guard, workers at the New York Mercantile Exchange, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, and other institutions evacuated their buildings, and hundreds of others called 911 when they saw the low-flying plane. Thousands of people filled the streets in lower Manhattan, fearing the worst. If we had had advance warning, we could have advised our constituents not to be alarmed, and minimized the high level of concern that existed this morning.
We understand that there is a need to conduct military activity and even, under some circumstances, near lower Manhattan. However, this does not appear to have been a serious military exercise that would have required a “need to know” classification. Additionally, if this was indeed an aerial photo mission, why you would approve such an exercise for a Monday morning defies reason.
We ask that you urgently advise New Yorkers of the purpose of this exercise, why it needed to be undertaken in New York, and without any public notice. We also ask that you commit to considerable public advance warning before undertaking similar activities in the future.
Sincerely yours,
Daniel R. Garodnick
http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/090427_Jet_Circles_Lower_Manhattan
This is not going away. Just spent a few minutes looking over the comments section of many of the media reports of this and people ARE MAD AS HELL!!
We need to have an answer and demand one that makes sense. Who ordered the ‘photo op’? Where can we see this ‘photo’? Who took the pictures?
The explanation that it was ‘just the military’ is bogus!
The White House will issue a statement about how this was scheduled a year ago (by Bush, of course) and the nasty Republicans failed to mention to Obama's people that this event was in the works.
In other words, it's Bush's fault. The Democrats will believe that.
Enough with the rock-stupid denials. The issue is the non-notification of the previously terrorized population of the creation of situation with an extreme visual similarity with the previous terrorist act, and you damn well know it. Non-notification was indefensible, and what your sneer at as "paranoia" was common sense.
Gettin real tired of you spin hacks.
LOL..I would not be surprised.
Gibbs up at the WH presser. Will he be asked about this?
Good for her!
Heart attacks , falling down stairs , panic, etc ......any reported ?
This was as you state a BFD !
That video shows AF 1 flying too close to buildings. Stupidity on the parts of all involved, FAA, Obama and the pilots IMO !
GIBBS DUCKING QUESTION BIG TIME IN PRESSER!!
GUILTY!!
WOW..I HOPE SOMEONE GOT A VIDEO OF THAT EXCHANGE!! Gibbs said talk to the FAA..when pushed that the FAA already released a statement..Gibbs said (I kid you not)..’Then talk to the White House’....LOL. When it was pointed out that he was the ‘White House’, he started ducking and dodging so much that even the reporter quipped that he seemed very ‘nervous’.
OMG
“Heart attacks , falling down stairs , panic, etc ......any reported ?
This was as you state a BFD !
That video shows AF 1 flying too close to buildings. Stupidity on the parts of all involved, FAA, Obama and the pilots IMO !”
Hopefully, there were no serious injuries or heart attacks.
However as you know, even mustering experienced warriors in emergency or unannounced situations can result in injuries.
Shaking my head in disbelief. Did anyone consider the possibility the sight of a 747 flying low ever Staten Island might scare the entire population of NYC? Not to mention those who are relatives of the murdered victims on 9/11?
Since when does the Defense Department do a friggin photo op? Why are they using a 747 to do so?
Mark my word...there will be an Odumba propaganda ad running soon.
They haven’t a clue ..........insanity like this in simple day to day operations makes me very afraid of the really serious business of this nation being handled by these zipper headed fools !
Did you see what Hussein pulled?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2238725/posts?page=159#159
That is an excellent question.
Where was the official white house photographer?
If he was in that plane that terrorized a lot of NYC people, what did he know and what was his objective in the photo shoot?
Gettin real tired of you spin hacks.
Get over yourself!
While I understand the population's potential nervousness, flying AF 1 up the Hudson past the Statue of Liberty is not the same as diving into buildings. And just how would you "notify the population" anyway?
The military isn't going to pre-announce a flight plan of AF 1 to anyone.
You can find hundreds of photos of planes military and otherwise, making low passes past the Statue of Liberty, you'd think New Yorkers would take it in their stride by now but then maybe I'm giving them more credit than they are due.
And I suggest you read some of my previous 9000 plus postings here before you label me a "spin hack".
This is right up there with driving drunk, down wrong way on a one way street !
Damn !
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