Air Force One's low Halloween flight over the White House actually triggered a wave of 911 calls for help. Senators criticized and triggered panic

U.S. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth issued a statement on the 2nd, condemning the recent low-altitude flyby of Air Force One by the White House, and wrote to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, and Defense Secretary Hegseth, demanding that the Trump administration explain why Air Force One was allowed to fly at low altitude over the White House.

According to the "Capitol Hill" report, this low-altitude flyby took place during the White House's Halloween party on October 29. Air Force One conducted two low-altitude flights around the South Lawn of the White House. An FAA official said the flights had been coordinated with the agency in advance. The D.C. Council confirmed on social media that anyone in downtown Washington, D.C. or near Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) was notified 15 minutes before the flight.

Duckworth pointed out that the two low-altitude flybys of Air Force One alarmed residents, triggered multiple 911 emergency calls, and forced the Reagan Washington National Airport to suspend ground flight operations, causing more than 200 flight delays. "To the children on the South Lawn of the White House, this may be a surprise," she wrote in a letter to Bedford, Volt and Hegseth. "But to others in Washington, it is a prank that is dangerous, expensive and irresponsible."

Duckworth continued, "During the terrorist incident of September 11, 2001, a hijacked commercial airliner crashed into the Pentagon. During this incident, many people called 911 for help because they were worried about being attacked, but the White House insisted that this low-altitude flyover brought joy. Please tell those who called 911 that this is the joy they felt."

Duckworth concluded by saying, "What this country got was not a surprise, but a prank disguised as a gift. This is another reminder that this irresponsible president cares more about pleasing children with his own toys than caring about the actual needs of the American people."

Duckworth challenged Bedford, Volt and Hegseth, asking them to explain on the 20th the approval process that the low-altitude flyover went through before its execution and whether they followed appropriate notification procedures. She also asked relevant units to provide "a complete breakdown of the costs borne by taxpayers."