The most appropriate word for this incident seems to be “oops.”
Louis Caldera, the director of the White House’s military office and a former University of New Mexico president, approved a flyover that — understandably — caused quite a stir on Monday in New York City.
From The Associated Press:
“One of the president’s official planes and a supersonic fighter jet zoomed past the lower Manhattan skyline in a flash just as the work day was beginning Monday. Within minutes, startled financial workers streamed out of their offices, fearing a nightmarish replay of Sept. 11.
“For a half-hour, the Boeing 747 and F-16 jet circled the Statue of Liberty and the lower Manhattan skyline near the World Trade Center site. Offices evacuated. Dispatchers were inundated with calls. Witnesses thought the planes were flying dangerously low.
“But the flyover was nothing but a photo op, apparently one of a series of flights to get pictures of the president’s airliner in front of national landmarks.
“It was carried out by the Defense Department with little warning, infuriating New York officials and putting the White House on the defense. Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg didn’t know about it, and he later called it ‘insensitive’ to fly so near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.”
Oops.
Caldera took the blame in this statement:
“Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision,” said the Caldera statement released by the White House. “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 AP, quoting an anonymous White House official, said President Barack Obama was “furious” when he learned of the incident.