Low flight over Manhattan raises concern NEW YORK (AP) =97 A commercial plane carrying returning military personnel= =20 flew near the Statue of Liberty and low over midtown Manhattan, prompting=20 emergency calls from some concerned onlookers. The Continental Airlines=20 plane, a Boeing 777, was given permission to change its flight plan as it=20 approached its destination of Newark Liberty International Airport at about= =20 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The flight=20 pattern was intended "to provide a special homecoming for members of our=20 armed forces," the FAA said in a statement. The statement said FAA=20 officials "regret any negative effect this flight had on some New York City= =20 residents." The FAA also said it has since issued an order that future=20 similar requests will not be granted. The flight flew at about 3,000 feet,= =20 the FAA said, while planes typically fly over the city at more than 3,500=20 feet. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement that "Considering the=20 world we live in and New York City's recent history, one would expect a=20 little more concern, sensitivity and notice from the FAA when they=20 authorize a plane to fly at that altitude over lower Manhattan." The FAA=20 did not release the city of origin of the flight, Continental Flight 3021.= =20 A message left for a Continental spokesperson was not immediately returned. *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Site of the Week: http://www.cso.gov.tt TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************