President Donald Trump’s plane conducted an unexpected low flyover over Washington last week for Halloween, catching the attention of startled city residents, the D.C. Council — and at least one senator.
On Monday, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration, Defense Department and Office of Management and Budget criticizing the low flyover as dangerous and a waste of taxpayer money.
The flyover was “presumably” conducted with Defense Department funds, Duckworth wrote, meaning it was paid for by taxpayers.
“A serious President would be bringing costs down. This one is busy showing off his toys, putting on full display how wildly out of touch he is with the needs of the American people,” said Duckworth, the ranking member on the Senate’s aviation subcommittee.
The White House posted a video on social media that featured Trump waving from outside the White House, where a Halloween celebration was taking place Thursday, as his plane flew overhead. “An epic Air Force One flyover at the White House for the trick-or-treaters!” the post said.
The plane flew over the White House twice, according to flight tracking data. While over D.C., the aircraft’s altitude ranged from about 400 feet to about 1,000 feet, according to flight tracking data.
At 5:24 p.m. Thursday, an AlertDC notification informed people that the U.S. military would conduct a flyover over the National Mall.
In a post on X, the D.C. Council noted the flyover’s short notice. “This flyover provided just fifteen minutes notice to anyone in downtown DC, at the Pentagon, or at National Airport. It startled many, including us,” read the post.
Washington’s airspace is more restricted than anywhere else in the United States. During and after the flyover, D.C. residents expressed concern about the display. One social media user wrote on X that they thought the aircraft was flying “crazy low for a 747.” They added: “I’m used to flyovers in DC but this one scared me.”
In her letter, Duckworth said the flyover caused some people to call 911.
An FAA spokesperson said the flyover was coordinated with the agency and there was a brief ground stop at Reagan National Airport to accommodate it. There were more than 200 flight delays at National on Thursday, according to FlightAware data, but it’s unclear how many were due to the ground stop.
In her letter, Duckworth asked the FAA whether the agency raised any objections to the display and whether it weighed the impact of delays on airlines and passengers.
Military flyovers, many tied to the country’s 250th anniversary, have impacted operations at National on other occasions this year, including for July 4 celebrations and the Grand Prix street race in August. Independence Day festivities featured extensive military flyovers over D.C.
Duckworth also criticized the FAA and Defense Department for facilitating the flyover despite not having closed out all of the recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board following the 2025 midair collision near National that killed 67 people.
“It is a disgraceful dereliction of duty that dishonors the memories of the passengers, crew and servicemembers that were killed,” she wrote.
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