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NYC financial workers see low-flying planes, panic

In this image taken with a cell phone by Jason McLane, a Boeing 747 flies low over New York Harbor, followed by an F-16 chase plane during a federal government photo opportunity.
In this image taken with a cell phone by Jason McLane, a Boeing 747 flies low over New York Harbor, followed by an F-16 chase plane during a federal government photo opportunity.
(Jason McLane / Los Angeles Times)
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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he is furious that the federal government flew a presidential Boeing 747 and a fighter jet near ground zero. The incident on Monday caused a brief panic among workers, who said they were not notified in advance.

Bloomberg says the flyover so near the World Trade Center site showed “poor judgment” and was insensitive. He says he is furious that the NYPD and another city agency were notified last week, but did not tell him.

If he had known, Bloomberg says he would have tried to stop it.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the Air Force say the flight was a government photo opportunity and training mission involving a presidential plane.

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White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said he had no information on the flying photo op.

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