Air Force One flies low over the White House twice for Halloween, affecting 202 flights

During a surprise organized for children on Halloween, the presidential aircraft Air Force One flew at low altitude over the White House twice. The flight led to a temporary suspension of air traffic and caused delays to 202 flights.

The maneuver took place while U.S. President Donald Trump was hosting a party for children at the presidential residence. The White House published footage of the aircraft over the building on social media, describing its flyby as a spectacle for those attending the Halloween event.

But what was presented as a festive display caused concern in Washington. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily closed Reagan National Airport, one of the U.S. capital’s main air hubs.

Local authorities, the airport and residents were notified only 15 minutes before the flight took place. Airlines also said that the information had reached them less than an hour before the event.

The District of Columbia City Council publicly criticized this method of notification in a social media post. According to the council, the late warning caught many people off guard, including its members.

Various passengers said that aircraft traveling to Washington were diverted from their planned routes or held in the air until traffic returned to normal.

FlightAware data showed that delays affected 26% of departing flights and 17% of arriving flights. In total, 202 flights were affected, mainly because of the temporary halt in airport operations.

Air Force One flyovers over various parts of the United States are common during events attended by Donald Trump, particularly at major sporting events. However, this Halloween flight over the White House directly affected air traffic in Washington.