Giant plane circles Manhattan, causing confusion & fear (PHOTO, VIDEO)
New Yorkers were taken aback by the sight of a large military plane circling the Manhattan skyline on Tuesday. There has been no official explanation of what the plane was doing.
#Military#plane C-130? Circling around #Manhattan. Anyone have answers? pic.twitter.com/U6Q7r9bvmZ
— Sasha Moses (@sashamoses76) December 13, 2016
I tried to take a pic through binoculars and it didn't really work pic.twitter.com/H47aoSTynH
— Sam Biddle (@samfbiddle) December 13, 2016
According to social media users, the mysterious plane is a C-130 Hercules. Made by Lockheed Martin, it is used as a military transport plane.
here's video pic.twitter.com/NnaDneWisp
— Sam Biddle (@samfbiddle) December 13, 2016
@samfbiddle@DYShor C-130 Hercules! That certainly is an interesting sight over Manhattan.
— Sarah Lilly Heidt (@sarahlillyheidt) December 13, 2016
@LanceUlanoff It's a C-130 transport plane
— Roger Entner (@RogerEntner) December 13, 2016
According to reports, the New York Police Department have said they don’t know why the plane is up there.
The @NYPDnews just told @BuzzFeedNews they don't know why this plane is circling Manhattan. https://t.co/MHL4wktbCH
— Tom Namako (@TomNamako) December 13, 2016
A video of the plane that's been circling Manhattan pic.twitter.com/Bsj5ANEeW1
— Alp Ozcelik (@alplicable) December 13, 2016
The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) told reporters: “We do not disclose the mission of what the plane is doing.”
C-130 and 2 Blackhawk helicopters circling over Manhattan. Wtf? pic.twitter.com/NtBMFFPHaJ
— Chris Gettings (@GChris_P) December 13, 2016
According to airline blogger Jason Rabinowitz, there were also reports of “several Black Hawk helicopters circling low (3,000 feet) over Manhattan.”
Seeing multiple reports of a USAF C-130 and several Black Hawk helicopters circling low (3,000 feet) over Manhattan.
— Jason Rabinowitz (@AirlineFlyer) December 13, 2016
No, that is not normal pic.twitter.com/DaFByrAX3O
USAF aircraft callsign “KING” listed as “SAR (search and rescue) aircraft not on mission.”
— Jason Rabinowitz (@AirlineFlyer) December 13, 2016
So very strange. https://t.co/y2Jl5lSQAz
@AirlineFlyer Training for POTUS contingencies, perhaps.
— Andrew Poure (@apoure25) December 13, 2016
Rabinowitz then tweeted that the plane had departed New York City’s airspace, and that it belonged to the 102nd Rescue Squadron of the New York Air National Guard.
The C-130 belongs to the 102nd Rescue Squadron of the New York Air National Guard.
— Jason Rabinowitz (@AirlineFlyer) December 13, 2016
Not normal activity, but it has already departed NYC. https://t.co/y2Jl5lSQAz
Ain’t nothing standard about a C-130 orbiting Manhattan at 3,000 feet, Col. Broccoli. https://t.co/3BMyOCrFzF
— Jason Rabinowitz (@AirlineFlyer) December 13, 2016
A Washington Post reporter quoted a Colonel Nicholas Broccoli, vice Commanding Officer of the 106th Rescue Wing, who said the circling was “standard military training.” Broccoli also said the flight was cleared with the FAA.
Col. Broccoli, CO of the 106th Rescue Wing says the C130 circling Manhattan is doing "standard military training."
— Thomas Gibbons-Neff (@Tmgneff) December 13, 2016
@missrrosenberg He said it was cleared with FAA. Hadn't heard about it at first, had to describe the orbit pattern etc.
— Thomas Gibbons-Neff (@Tmgneff) December 13, 2016
@Tmgneff I have not seen that kind of military training 3,000 ft above Manhattan in over a decade. "Standard military training"?
— Lance Ulanoff (@LanceUlanoff) December 13, 2016
Some people were suspicious of Colonel Broccoli’s unusual name, but were assured that he is a real person.
Hes hello. @Tmgneff This is Col. Broccoli here. I do apologize for my flight maneuvers over Manhattan today. It won't happen again.Thank u pic.twitter.com/GEsn5rJKKi
— A Laura Borealis (@Dogbroccoli) December 13, 2016
REPORTER: How should I attribute this statement?
— Brendan O'Connor (@_grendan) December 13, 2016
LYING GOVERNMENT, LOOKING AT LUNCH LEFTOVERS: To Colonel....uhh......Colonel Broccoli https://t.co/5MlsAaFgmw
@Tmgneff Col. Nick Broccoli is a real person, guys. https://t.co/eabQ4ufLHB
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) December 13, 2016
