It was supposed to be a photo opportunity, a showcase of Air Force One alongside the sweep of New York City skyline.
Other images of the plane, taken at picturesque sites like Mount Rushmore, are sold as souvenirs and used in promotional materials.
Witnesses described the engine roar as the planes swooped by office towers close enough to rattle the windows and prompt evacuations at scores of buildings. Some sobbed as they made their way to the street.
“We ran like hell.”
Obviously, the folks in the Air Force and at the White House Military Office were not thinking.
Hmm, let’s see…let’s take a large aircraft and conduct a low altitude flight through downtown Manhattan – site of the worst American terrorist attack in history, which, by the way was perpetrated by terrorists flying large airplanes. Oh, and let’s keep it a secret, telling only one person in the mayor’s office and the New York City Police Department – further, telling them that they can only tell folks with a “need to know.”
What a colossally BAD idea.
I could understand the secrecy and “need to know” caveats if the president was actually on the aircraft, but some Air Force flunky pilot followed by an F-16…!? Where is the need for secrecy here?
I think the Air Force just missed an opportunity for some great publicity. Why not tell everyone you are flying Air Force One (It’s actually only Air Force One when the president is aboard, but why get technical?) over the city for a photo op? Get all of NYC out on the side walks to greet you and take pictures. What a great recruiting tool.
Had this been Marine One (the presidents helicopter), USMC probably would have purchased billboards advertising the event, offered a battalion of Marines in dress uniform for crowd control, and had recruiters signing up new recruits all over the city.
But, that’s why the Marines are the Marines and the Air Force…well, they are not the Marines.
Photo courtesy of New York Times and Jim Brown
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