And yet they refused to even tell the mayor of New York about it? They need all of that secrecy to update a stock photo of the president’s plane? Here’s an idea: Let New Yorkers know that sometime on Monday the Air Force would be flying over the city for a picture. No one scared, nothing harmed. Instead we get a clusterfark that the feds knew would turn out to be a clusterfark, yet kept secret anyway.

Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the photo-op kept secret from the public.

In a memo obtained by CBS 2 HD the Federal Aviation Administration’s James Johnston said the agency was aware of “the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes” in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor’s office and threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out…

The NYPD was so upset about the demand for secrecy that Police Commissioner Ray Kelly vowed never to follow such a directive again and he accused the feds of inciting fears of a 9/11 replay.

And how much did this scarefest cost the American taxpayers? About $329,000. You’re welcome.