Air Force One flies over White House for Halloween, startling some residents

President Trump arranged for Air Force One to fly over the White House during a Halloween event there on Thursday, a stunt the administration celebrated but that alarmed some Washington residents.

President Donald Trump arranged for Air Force One to fly over the White House during a Halloween trick-or-treat event there on Thursday evening, a spectacle that startled some residents of the capital.

"An epic Air Force One flyover at the White House for the trick-or-treaters!" the White House's Rapid Response 47 account wrote, sharing video of Trump waving as the aircraft passed overhead. According to The Washington Post, the plane made two passes over the White House.

Some residents said they had little warning. "I'm probably being that person, but that flyover in DC right now was very scary," one X user wrote. "Essentially no heads up that it would be happening and it sounded like a regular commercial plane." Another said the sight gave her "a mini heart attack along with everyone else on the street."

Washington's AlertDC system issued a notification at 5:24 p.m. warning of a planned military flyover near the National Mall, the Post reported. The Federal Aviation Administration said the flight had been coordinated and required a temporary ground stop at Reagan National Airport.

Trump confirmed the flyover to reporters earlier in the afternoon. "We have a tremendous number of young children there, so it'll be nice," he said. The aircraft is designated Air Force One only when the president is aboard.

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