Senator Tammy Duckworth Demands Probe Into White House Flyover
Senator Tammy Duckworth is demanding a full accounting of a presidential airplane flyover that disrupted D.C. air traffic and flew below safe altitudes.
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth has demanded a full accounting from government agencies following a White House flyover by the U.S. presidential airplane during a children's Halloween party last Thursday. Duckworth, the top Democrat on the subcommittee overseeing the Federal Aviation Administration, called the flight a "dangerous stunt" after flight-tracking data indicated the aircraft flew between 400 and 1,000 feet, which is below the FAA's minimum safe altitude and close to the Washington Monument.
The flyover caused significant operational disruptions at Reagan Washington National Airport, where traffic was temporarily halted and 202 flights were delayed. Local lawmakers and airline officials reported receiving as little as 15 minutes to one hour of notice before the event.
The FAA confirmed the flight was coordinated with the agency. Both the FAA and the Pentagon stated they would respond to Duckworth's inquiries regarding authorized altitudes, training objectives, and the costs associated with the flight.
