As was reported widely, the backup Air Force One did a low fly-by over lower Manhattan yesterday, scaring the bejezus out of everyone. Early blame was placed on the White House Military Officer, but it’s coming out today from the FAA that the Feds knew the fly-over photo-op would cause a panic. They just didn’t give a damn.
From WCBSTV:
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.
Screen Cap Courtesy NY1In 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.
…
The flyover — apparently ordered by the White House Office of Military Affairs so it would have souvenir photos of Air Force One with the Statue of Liberty in the background — had President Obama seeing red. He ordered a probe and apologized.
“It was a mistake. It will never happen again,” President Obama said.
The NYPD was so upset about the demand for secrecy that Police Commissioner Ray Kelly vowed never to follow such a directive again and he accused the feds of inciting fears of a 9/11 replay.
“Did it show any insensitivity to the psychic wounds New York City has after 9/11? Absolutely. No questions about it. It was quite insensitive.”
A souvenir photo? A freakin’ SOUVENIR photo??? This is an unforgivable sin, and I doubt we’ve heard the end of it. After all, the buck stops with the president. I’m just waiting for that shoe to drop.
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