White House Panic Attack

Never mind that the White House has spent trillions of dollars it doesn’t have to jump start the economy, but now a carefully choreographed flight of Air Force One has New Yorkers in a panic.

The White House Military Office notified federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the New York region last week that they wanted to update photos of the presidential aircraft. The information, given on a “need-to-know basis,” wasn’t shared with New Yorkers, who saw the plane accompanied by an F-16 flying low over the Hudson River. The aircraft could be seen turning tightly over the Statue of Liberty for what was later described as a “photo op.”

While it’s true the events of 9/11 are a few years removed, but for New Yorkers especially, low flying aircraft over the Hudson River are a haunting reminder of that dreadful day. Thousands of workers apparently fled their high-rise office buildings at the unexpected sight of the signature blue and white 747 aircraft near Miss Liberty.

Apparently, the photo op is routine over New York Harbor and the Grand Canyon, both national landmarks. And the flyover had been approved and coordinated with everyone that mattered in such instances.

A confidential FAA security memo went out last week noted there might be “the possibility of public concern regarding Department of Defense aircraft flying at low levels.”

President Obama was furious when he found out about the gaffe, according to unnamed sources.

The bottom line is, the photo op flight was insensitive and a cause of poor judgment on the part of the administration. Nerves are still raw in New York and surrounding communities, as well they should be. Any aircraft, especially one with a trailing F-16 Fighting Falcon, is cause for civilians to peer skyward, refreshing their memories of 9/11 and two aircraft droning down the Hudson River with only terrorism in mind.

This act was not only poor planning, but poor judgment on the part of the administration.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.