By Basant El-Faramawy
Air Force One flew unusually low over the White House on Thursday afternoon, startling visitors and residents in Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump watched from the grounds during a Halloween event.
Low altitude raises concerns
Video released by the Trump administration showed the presidential jet passing near the Washington Monument at an altitude between 400 and 1,000 feet, according to flight data reviewed by The Washington Post. The flyover occurred around 4:40 p.m., shortly after Trump told reporters the plane would pass over the White House where children in costumes had gathered.
Officials criticize short notice
The Council of the District of Columbia said it received only 15 minutes' notice before the maneuver, which startled many people in downtown D.C., at the Pentagon, and at Reagan National Airport. Social media users described feeling anxious, citing the city's sensitivity to low-flying aircraft after the September 11 attacks.
