Many New Yorkers panicked when a Presidential 747 circled over lower Manhattan Monday. They soon became angry to find out that the flyover was just a photo op carried out by the Defense Department.

Hello I’m Charlotte Bellis and you’re watching Newsy.com. That was video from CNN. The aircraft was one of two 747s used to carry the president.

It’s also known as Air Force One when the president is on board.

The flight was staged to get pictures of the plane in front of national landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty. But the citizens of New York thought they were under attack in a repeat of 9/11.

Staten Island Advance cites FAA spokesman Jim Peters, who claimed that there was no need for panic.

"It is pre-planned, pre-coordinated with everyone involved… It's a military flight over New York to take photos."

Peters also said city officials as well as state government agencies in New York and New Jersey were briefed on the flight in advance.

However, MSNBC’s coverage of a briefing given by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs shows that not everyone was in the loop.

“I don’t know… I was working on other things. You might be surprised to know I don’t know every movement of Air Force One or what happens to it.” (MSNBC)

CNN has the perspective of Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg who said he didn’t know about the flyover.

“Why the Defense Department wanted to do a photo op right on the site of the WTC catastrophe defies imagination… poor judgment would be a nice way to put it, but they did.” (CNN)

Louis Caldera, director of the White House Military Office, apologized after the incident.
New York Times quotes his apology:

“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.” (New York Times)

FOX News says his apology alone is not enough.

“Ultimately, it’s Mr. Caldera, who gets the blame for this, and he should resign, quite frankly. This is more than a lapse of judgment, this is complete stupidity in a time of economic crisis, we are wasting hundred of thousands of dollars for publicity photos of Air Force One.” (FOX News)

President Obama, who according to ABC was ‘furious’ about the flyover, had this to say:

“It was a mistake. It was something we found out about with all of you, and it will not happen again.”

How could have New Yorkers been better informed about the flyover? Was their anger justified?
We invite to leave your thoughts and comments about this story…