Office workers in Sydney were terrified today when they saw what appeared to be a large airliner shadowed by a military jet bank over city skyscrapers.
The two planes circled the city several times for 15 minutes before flying off. "It looked horribly like a re-run of September 11," said office manager Jennifer Thornthwaite.
"They kept banking and flying over the tops of office buildings. After September 11, anybody's entitled to be frightened."
"Oh no," said French tourist Michel Lescot. "You could see the military jet tailing a large airliner. They seemed to get as close as they could. It made you immediately think of the September 11 attacks."
Radio stations were flooded with calls from people fearing a terrorist attack.
The Australian Defence Department later apologised for a mid-air photography exercise.
Spokesman Tim Bloomfield said an Australian Hawk trainer jet was flying close to take photos of the US plane, an RC 135 or converted Boeing 707.
"We do apologise to the people of Sydney that we didn't inform them," he said. "Normally we advise the public."
The US plane was on a visit to Australian for trials and the photographs were being taken for training purposes so air force personnel would better understand and recognise the American jet.
AFP
