NEW YORK: It was supposed to be a photo opportunity that captured images of an Air Force One plane with a majestic Statue of Liberty in the background. Instead, it turned into a public relations nightmare that led to recriminations from the president and mayor and prompted thousands other to ask: "What were they thinking?"

Just before the workday began on Monday, an airliner and supersonic fighter jet zoomed past the lower Manhattan skyline. Within minutes, startled financial workers streamed out of their offices, fearing a nightmarish replay of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

For a half-hour, the Boeing 747 and F-16 jet circled the Statue of Liberty and the Financial District near the site of the destroyed World Trade Center. Offices evacuated. Dispatchers were inundated with calls. Witnesses thought the planes were flying dangerously low.