Navy cancels training flight over NYC on 9/11 after criticism

After fierce backlash, the Navy has canceled a training flight in New York City that was scheduled on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

The U.S. Navy said in statement that there are no longer plans to fly over the Hudson River on Friday.

“A training flight was cancelled by the squadron and rescheduled for a later date,” the Navy said in a statement. “That flight had been previously approved in accordance with all Federal Aviation Administration rules and regulations, and was unrelated to any 9-11 memorial commemorations.”

NY1 first reported the cancellation on Twitter, with anchor Pat Kiernan writing that the “ill-conceived” plan was nixed by the Department of Defense after a formal request from City Hall.

This ill-conceived Navy Sept 11 flyover has been cancelled. City Hall tells @NY1 a formal request to cancel was submitted to Department of Defense earlier today and they’ve just received word that flyover will not go ahead. https://t.co/T02Xj5sCSI

— Pat Kiernan (@patkiernan) September 11, 2020

The city’s emergency notification system tweeted on Thursday that an F-18 jet would be flying over the Hudson River toward the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at 2,500 feet.

The announcement created an uproar from critics who called it “tone deaf” to have a plan fly at a low altitude on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s (D) office said in a statement that he wasn’t previously aware of the Navy’s plans.

“Frankly, it’s inappropriate,” a spokesperson for de Blasio said.

Rep. Max Rose (D-N.Y.), a Staten Islander who represents New York’s 11th Congressional District, called for canceling the training flight.

“Are you out of your mind?” he wrote on Twitter.

Are you out of your mind? Cancel this immediately. https://t.co/SgwNQEHduN

— Max Rose (@MaxRose4NY) September 10, 2020

Other social media users were quick to condemn the plans as well.

Ummm…doing a low flyover in New York City on 9/11? Seriously? What idiot came up with this idea? Can you imagine the trauma this will set off for survivors and their families? https://t.co/qYR5yJbZg4

— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) September 11, 2020

.What? CANCEL THIS!! This is insane and cruel to those of us who still suffer from PTSD when we hear a low-flying plane no matter where we are, yet alone flying down the Hudson River past the WTC!

— Arlene Kaplan (@ArleneKaplan) September 10, 2020