The plane flying low reminds New Yorkers of the 9/11 attacks, President Obama was not on the flight.
The White House has apologized after one of the presidential planes and a supersonic fighter jet flew alarmingly low over New York, triggering scare and causing emergency evacuation of several office buildings as it reminded people of the 9/11.
"I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused," Louis Caldera, director White House Military Office, said in a statement as New Yorkers including its mayor, Michael Bloomberg, were furious that such a scary exercise was carried out without any prior information.
Obama was not on the flight, the White House said.
It all happened at about 10 am on Monday when the Boeing 747, which is called Air Force One when used by the president, accompanied by F-16 fighter jet manoeuvered too low over the New York skyline in the vicinity of Lower Manhattan, Statue of Liberty and in the vicinity of Ground Zero.
The flyover was so low that it reminded people of the 9/11 attacks. As panic spread, people came out of their offices and buildings and rushed for safer places. Media reports said that around 1,000 people gathered along the Hudson River.
A furious New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, addressing a press conference, said had he known this, he would have stopped the plane from flying so low.
The White House and federal authorities said local authorities in New York and New Jersey were informed about the planned exercise called "aerial photo mission" carried out by the Presidential Airlift Group.
"Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision. 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," Caldera said.
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