Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Oct 30

Air Force One's 2 Low Passes Delay 200 Flights as White House Halloween Flyover Startles D.C.

Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Oct 30

Air Force One's 2 Low Passes Delay 200 Flights as White House Halloween Flyover Startles D.C.

Q: Why did a Halloween Air Force One flyover over Washington alarm residents and delay more than 200 flights?

Residents were alarmed because Air Force One made two unusually low passes over downtown Washington with only about 15 minutes of public notice, and many people were not told in advance. In a city still deeply sensitive to aircraft threats after Sept. 11, the large Boeing 747-8 looked and sounded to some like a commercial jet on a dangerous approach, prompting fears that a plane might be heading toward buildings. The confusion was heightened because local officials said they had not been properly briefed. The military posted a notice only shortly before the flyover, and the first pass came soon after. Witnesses near downtown, the Pentagon and Reagan National Airport said the aircraft’s low altitude and sudden appearance made the moment feel alarming rather than ceremonial. More than 200 flights were delayed because the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily halted traffic at Reagan National Airport to accommodate the flyover. Reuters reported 202 delayed flights. The ground stop was part of the airspace management needed for the presidential aircraft’s passes over the National Mall and White House area. The flyover was tied to the White House Halloween event, where President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were handing out candy to thousands of trick-or-treaters. While the White House celebrated it as a dramatic display, the short warning, low altitude and airport disruption drove the backlash.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 30

Two low-altitude passes by the Boeing 747-8 used as Air Force One roared over downtown Washington during a White House Halloween event, startling residents who had little warning.
More than 200 flights at Ronald Reagan National Airport were delayed after the FAA temporarily halted traffic during the flyover near the National Mall and White House.
Fifteen minutes' notice was all many officials and residents got, according to the D.C. Council, and social media posts showed confusion and fear, with some recalling the Sept. 11 attacks.
The White House celebrated the display rather than apologizing, posting video of Trump waving beneath the jet; the $400 million plane was a recent gift from Qatar serving as a temporary Air Force One.