NEW YORK (CNN) -- After a YouTube video showed panicked New Yorkers scrambling as a Boeing 747 flew frighteningly close to the lower Manhattan skyline, a former Homeland Security adviser questioned whether the man who approved the flyby should remain in his White House office.


Witnesses reported seeing a plane circle over the Upper New York Bay near the Statue of Liberty.

1 of 3 Fran Townsend, who advised President George W. Bush for more than three years, called the move "crass insensitivity" in the wake of 9/11.

"I'd call this felony stupidity. This is probably not the right job for Mr. Caldera to be in if he didn't understand the likely reaction of New Yorkers, of the mayor," Townsend said Tuesday on CNN's "American Morning."

Louis Caldera, director of the White House Military Office, quickly apologized for Monday's incident after the planes prompted workers and residents to evacuate buildings in New York and New Jersey. Watch Townsend slam Caldera »

"Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision," Caldera said. "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."

The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft, which functions as Air Force One when the president is aboard, was taking part in a classified, government-sanctioned photo shoot.

An angry Mayor Michael Bloomberg said it "defies the imagination" that an agency would schedule the photo shoot so near the site of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center.

President Obama also reportedly expressed outrage. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, said the FAA's decision to not announce the flyby "borders on being either cruel or very, very stupid."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/28/low.flying.plane/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/28/low.flying.plane/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

i read that article last night. aooarently the mayor didn't know about the publicity stunt

It was carried out by the Defense Department with little warning, infuriating New York officials and putting the White House on the defense. Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg didn't know about it, and he later called it "insensitive" to fly so near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_on_re_us/us_low_flying_plane

Yep, felony stupid!

I was freaked out when it happened.

interesting

maybe it was a political ploy

is there something that needs a distraction going on


very interesting

heard it was a photo opportunity

An oopsy on Louis Caldera's behalf, the director of the White House Military Office.

yep thats the official line

He's truly lucky stupidity is not a crime.

How long before the conspiracy theories begin?

I heard it was really an alien aircraft that had morphed as a disguise!!

no conspiracy theories, sharing and speaking on the news.

an alien aircraft, hmmmmmmmm maybe that is what it was

they aren't??? dang...i wanted a vacation

Stupidity is a very normal condition for a government official.

to late fanta i already planted the seed

I was so frightened by it that I ran down 3 flights of stairs and took off running down the street screaming, and I live thousands of miles from New York

I saw the footage of all those people fleeing and screaming. What a waste of time, energy, money, and what fear to make folks go through.

Nobody will buy it unless you ran down the street naked.
Well, did ya'?

x10!

stupidity a requirement for job with govt?
hmmm it's all becoming so clear to me now

I will next time