Flyover of Lower Manhattan Shows Callous Disregard for Public Safety at FAA

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story reported that the Department of Homeland Security was responsible for telling local authorities not to alert the public about the flyover. That information was incorrect. It was the FAA that requested the event be unpublicized. The article has been changed accordingly.

Now that it is over, perhaps officials in the Federal Aviation Administration can sit back and laugh at the boneheaded decision to stage a publicity photo shoot of a jumbo jet-liner being chased by fighter jets while flying low over lower Manhattan. But the fact that today's incident in the skies happened at all – virtually over the spot where nearly 3,000 Americans died in the worst terrorist attack in American history; an attack carried out by low-flying hijacked planes used as guided missiles – reveals at best a seriously flawed decision making process, and at worst a callous disregard for public safety at the federal agency charged with airline safety.

Some commentators might be tempted to make light of the incident, now that its intent it known. But that does not take into account the very real fears of high rise office workers working in the shadow of Ground Zero and in Jersey City upon seeing what must have looked for all the world like a terrible replay of the terrible events of September 11, 2001. Witnesses reported office tower evacuations, people "running scared," with some flashing back to 9/11. People could have been seriously injured, even trampled, in the rush to get out of high buildings. For others, especially those who lived through the attacks, the effects of seeing 9/11 apparently happening all over again could have triggered deep-seated emotional trauma. These potential impacts could not have been considered by either Air Force or FAA decision makers. For if they had been, this event may never have taken place.

The photo shoot was authorized by the FAA and local authorities were notified, however, New York City Police were instructed not to alert the public. That instruction was followed so well, that even New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg said he was not alerted to the flyover. Bloomberg was reportedly furious upon learning of the panic in lower Manhattan, saying he needed time to "calm down" before speaking to aides about the incident.

One can only guess at the levels of decision making that today's photo shoot had to get through at the federal agencies involved in approving it. The plans for this event should have sent red flags up all over the FAA including up to Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's office. Clearly all is not well in the leadership at that department. President Obama should seriously consider making some changes at the top.

UPDATE: White House Military Office director Louis Caldera has apologized on behalf of the Obama Administration for the panic resulting from the photo shoot. "It's clear that the mission created confusion and disruption. I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused," Caldera said in a statement. This is a good start, but Caldera sholdnot be made the fall guy for what was the FAA's decision to approve the mission, and instruct local police to remain quiet about it.