Residents Fear as Planes Fly Overhead

By Amanda Romano

A recent Air Force One photo shoot caused New Yorkers to evacuate buildings and take cover as a Boeing 747 plane flew low over the Manhattan skyline and brought back memories of 9/11.

However, low flying planes are a regular occurence for many Southern Queens residents. Howard Beach is one of the cities in Queens in the direct pathway of planes flying in and out of John F. Kennedy Airport. "Not only is the noise nerve wracking at times, I sometimes feel my house shake depending on how low or fast the plane was passing," says Rizzo. Simone Rizzo, 20, has recently moved from Brooklyn to Howard Beach and is adjusting to the fear and the noise of the planes flying so low over her house.

"I had a habit to bowing my head as if the plane was literally over me," says Rizzo. On rainy days, the planes are forced to fly even lower than usual which cause windows to rattle on the houses that it overpasses. At times, the plane is so low that residents are able to make out what the name of the airline is and can see the landing gear.

"[We] are sometimes shaken at the fact that the planes are so much lower then they appear to be as well as actually watching the wheels descend as the plane is getting ready for landing," says Rizzo.

Rizzo says New Yorkers reacted in the best possible way to the Air Force One situation by taking caution. "I am aware that most buildings were evacuated because they had thought they were victims of another terrorist attack, in doing so I think it was good procedure that they were because they were being cautious," says Rizzo.

Even though residents may adjust and learn to ignore the sound and rumbling of the planes, it is still very frightening. "It has now been six months that I have lived here and I am slowly starting to get to use it but, I must admit it’s still very frightening and makes me nervous at times," says Rizzo.

At a local park, people going for a relaxing walk must be disturbed by the overpowering roar of the planes engine.Renee Orlando, 42, is a local resident and goes to Frank M. Charles Memorial Park to walk. "Charles Park is supposed to be a place to get away and relax on the beach or go for a walk but it is often disturbed by the noise and the air pollution from the engines that are released over the park," says Orlando. Pollution and fumes from the planes engine descend into the atmosphere at the park as the planes pass overhead.

Many residents believe that the plane appears much lower when landing then when it is taking off because the wheels are visible.. "Because of the angle most of the planes are coming in at it almost looks like it is going to land on the park and as you look up you can see the landing gear," says Orlando. Despite the length of time these residents have been seeing the planes fly in and out of JFK, their fear never seems to fade.