At 400 Feet, Trump’s Air Force One Flies Close to White House, Scaring Visitors

A startling Halloween flyover

Video shared by the Trump administration showed Air Force One passing the Washington Monument as Trump and Melania Trump watched. Trump waved as the plane approached the White House.

The aircraft’s low apparent altitude unsettled people in the city. Washington, D.C., is associated with the September 11, 2001, attacks, when terrorists crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, killing 184 people.

Visitors describe their alarm

One person on X said they were familiar with flyovers in Washington but found this one frightening, adding that a low passenger jet overhead could seem ominous before its identity was clear. Another user described experiencing a “mini heart attack” with others on the street.

A spokesperson for the Council of DC said on X that the flyover gave people in downtown Washington, at the Pentagon and at National Airport just 15 minutes’ notice. The spokesperson said it startled many people, including the council’s representatives.

Flight details and event footage

Flight data reviewed by The Washington Post showed the jet between 400 and 1,000 feet while crossing Washington. The aircraft passed over the White House twice during the Halloween event, according to the data reviewed by the newspaper.

Trump told the White House press pool at about 4:40 p.m. Thursday that the jet would fly over the White House, saying there were many young children present. A recording reviewed by the newspaper captured one pilot asking how many more fly-bys were planned; another replied, “Hopefully that’s the last.”

Children receive Halloween candy

A clip shared by the Rapid Response 47 account showed children looking up as the plane went over the White House. The building was decorated with vines and a sign reading “HALLOWEEN 2026.” Melania Trump’s office later posted footage on Instagram showing the first lady and the president handing out candy. Children at the event wore costumes ranging from founding fathers to superheroes, including Batman.