FAA stops military flight over Hudson River; jet photo op 2 weeks ago caused panic in NYC
By APMonday, May 11, 2009
NYC Navy flight canceled 2 weeks after jet panic
NEW YORK — The Federal Aviation Administration says it turned down a U.S. Navy request to fly a patrol aircraft past Manhattan, two weeks after a government photo shoot caused a panic in the office towers near ground zero.
The FAA says a Navy unit wanted to fly a P-3 Orion reconnaissance plane up and down the Hudson on Monday at about 3,000 feet. After high-level FAA officials learned of the request, they declined permission for the flight.
Two weeks ago, a Boeing 747 used as Air Force One caused a panic when it flew over the Hudson at around 1,000 feet. The White House official who authorized the photo-op resigned last week.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the city did not ask for Monday’s flight to be canceled, but did tell the FAA they would have preferred more notice.
