President’s plane conducts low D.C. flyover, startling people

Newser, citing the Post, reports that the jet made two low passes over the White House and National Mall on Thursday evening[2]. The Daily Beast reports that the aircraft's altitude was between about 400 feet and about 1,000 feet, according to flight tracking data cited by The Washington Post.[3]According to Military Times, the plane was the Qatari-donated jet[4], and around 5:20 p.m., AlertDC issued a notice to residents[4] about the flyover. Council wrote on X that the flyover "provided just fifteen minutes notice to anyone in downtown DC, at the Pentagon, or at National Airport.[5]It startled many, including us."[5]The Daily Beast reports that D.C. Fire was dispatched early Thursday night after concerned locals called about a large jet flying low above their homes.[6]According to The Washington Post, as cited by the Daily Beast, one pilot asked on air traffic control audio, "How many more fly-bys is he doing?"[6] The Daily Beast reports that an air traffic controller responded, "Hopefully that's the last."[6]An FAA spokesperson told the Post that the flyover had been coordinated with the agency and there was a brief ground stop at National to accommodate it.[3]White House spokesperson Allison Schuster told the Daily Beast that "this flyover brought joy and excitement to all those celebrating Halloween at the White House[6]," adding, "Once again, the left-wing media is trying to make a story out of nothing."[6]