Overview
- The Qatari‑donated Boeing 747‑8 that serves as Air Force One when the president is aboard made two unusually low passes over the White House during a Halloween event on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, and the White House posted video celebrating the display.
- Public flight‑tracking data reviewed by multiple outlets showed the jet flew at roughly 400 to 1,000 feet over parts of Washington, D.C., a height well below the FAA’s typical 1,000‑foot guidance for congested areas.
- The FAA told reporters the flyover had been coordinated with the agency and required a brief halt to departures and arrivals at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, producing dozens of delays.
- FlightAware data and airport statements showed about 202 delayed flights that evening, and air‑traffic recordings captured pilots and controllers complaining about repeated fly‑bys during the maneuver.
- Local leaders and residents said they received only about 15 minutes’ notice, with some Washingtonians — including people who lived through Sept. 11 and the 2025 regional crash — reporting fear and alarm; no public formal investigation or enforcement action had been announced as of Oct. 30.