PPRuNe Forums - Low Flight Raises 9/11 Fears

Since when is 3,000' low? More 9-11 over reaction.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ne...ws%2Dheadlines

Quote:

Low Flight Raises 9/11 Fears

By Graham Rayman and Glenn Thrush
Staff Writers

May 14, 2003, 9:42 PM EDT

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is irked at federal aviation officials for causing a brief stir blocks from Ground Zero early Wednesday by allowing a plane packed with U.S. soldiers to fly low over the city.

The incident led to a mistaken 911 call of a plane in the East River and a number of calls to the city and the FAA from concerned New Yorkers, officials said.

Mayoral spokesman Ed Skyler said the city received just two minutes notice before the incident.

"Considering the world we live in and New York City's recent history, one would expect a little more consideration, sensitivity and notice from the FAA when they authorize a plane to fly at that altitude over lower Manhattan," Bloomberg said in a statement.

At about 8:30 a.m., the FAA air traffic control center in Garden City granted a request from a U.S. government-chartered Continental Airlines flight 3021, carrying soldiers returning from Iraq, to fly at about 3,000 feet over the city on an approach to Newark Airport, said FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac. The typical altitude is 3,500 to 6,000 feet. The request was granted to give the soldiers a closer view of the city skyline and the Statue of Liberty, according to a written statement from the FAA.

In the statement, FAA officials said they "regret any negative effect this flight had on some New York City residents. The FAA has since issued an order that future similar requests will not be granted." Salac said she had no knowledge of a two-minute notification.

Continental Airlines spokesman Rahsaan Johnson declined to comment, citing agreements with the Defense Department.

The sight of the plane spurred one person to call 911, at 8:32 a.m. to report a plane in the river at the FDR Drive and Broad Street, a FDNY spokesman said. Fire Department units were available for their next job in seven minutes.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly called the low flight "inappropriate" and noted that he found out about it in the afternoon.

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