Bloomberg Blasts 'Photo Op' Flyover

Chain of communication broke down on DoD photo op
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 27, 2009 5:14 PM CDT
Bloomberg Blasts 'Photo Op' Flyover
The primary presidential aircraft, a Boeing 747 known as Air Force One when the president is aboard, flies low over New York Harbor, Monday, April 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jason McLane)

New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is livid over a Department of Defense photo op that sent two planes buzzing over lower Manhattan today, ABC News reports. Bloomberg called the flyover “ill-conceived” and expressed ire over the DoD's failure to notify him. "Poor judgment would be a nice way to put it," he said. The planes—one a 747 used as Air Force One—sent some rattled Manhattanites running into the streets.

A White House military official accepted responsibility for the flyover but said he "took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities." White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs refused to even address it: "I was working on other things," he said. The DoD also kept mum. As for Bloomberg, he plans to "calm down" before discussing the incident with agencies and his own staff.
(More Air Force One stories.)

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