A planned military flyover scheduled to take place over New York City waters on Friday, the 19th anniversary of Sept. 11, has sparked condemnation on social media — with many labeling the ceremony as “tone deaf” and “disrespectful.”
The New York City Emergency Management’s Notify NYC message indicated that an F-18 jet will conduct a flyover on the Hudson River headed toward the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at 3:30 p.m. Friday. The aircraft is expected to fly at approximately 2,500 feet.
Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn) slammed the idea Thursday afternoon.
“Are you out of your mind? Cancel this immediately,” Rose wrote on Twitter.
New York City Emergency Management confirmed the flyover is being conducted by the military but did not have more details, referring the Advance/SILive.com to the Federal Aviation Administration, who then referred a reporter to the Navy press office. The Navy has not yet responded for additional details concerning the operation.
The office of Mayor Bill de Blasio said, “The mayor wasn’t aware of the flyover, and frankly it’s inappropriate.”
“He looks forward to thanking our heroes and honoring those we’ve lost at the ceremony tomorrow,” a spokesman for the Mayor’s Office said.
Brandon Borrman, vice president of Global Communications at Twitter, tweeted the idea verged on “completely tasteless.”
Others expressed similar outrage, calling the flyover “bad” and a “terrible idea.”
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