The Argentine “Air Force One” made a crazy low level pass over Buenos Aires airport.
Late in the afternoon on May 25, 2023, Argentine took delivery of its new Boeing 757-200 in VVIP configuration. The aircraft, sporting a patriotic livery that recalls the Argentine flag, took off from Miami, U.S., and arrived in Argentine capital Buenos Aires, as ARG-01 (“Argentina 01”). Before it landed at Aeroparque Internacional Jorge Newbery the aircraft made a low pass over the airport.
But as shown in several videos posted online, the new Argentine Air Force One performed a low pass that was probably much lower than one might expect, especially considering the weather in the area, that saw low ceiling, rain and a thunderstorm.
Llegó hace un rato
video de @PlanesSpotterAr pic.twitter.com/MrH0LovB4a— Juanma Baiutti (@juanmab) May 25, 2023
Well….I’m not sure if this angle makes it better or worse. 🫣🤷🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/gWQ7UMdAnz
— Scott Bateman MBE ✈️ (@scottiebateman) May 26, 2023
Llega el 757 presidencial y antes de pisar suelo argentino sale este MAMARRACHO.
Parece que no fue suficiente con el 737, los aero kumpas siguen demostrando falta de criterio amparado por el poder.
Argentina patética!!!! pic.twitter.com/jDFrSyGYYf
— Vuelos y Viajes (@flysicardi) May 25, 2023
As you can see in the clips shot from different points of view, the aircraft levelled off a few meters above runway 13 and then made a steep turn, slowly climbing to the west of the field. It then circled back and returned for a full stop landing on runway 31.
Fue una pasada baja desde el NO al SE sobre la pista de “bienvenida” y despues levantó para ir arriba del rio antes de alinearse y aterrizar en sentido contrario pic.twitter.com/0W9d5bFNzy
— Juanma Baiutti (@juanmab) May 25, 2023
El audio de la pasada
Parecía un poco sorprendida la controladora al principio con el pedidohttps://t.co/M3akdNGKjl— Juanma Baiutti (@juanmab) May 26, 2023
The low pass of the new Boeing 757 of the Argentine Air Force has generated mixed reactions. On one side, aviation enthusiasts were thrilled by the performance; on the other side, many have firmly criticised the stunt. Argentine combat pilots are used to fly ultra low level, especially aboard tactical fast jets but, in this case the maneuver seems to be a bit too “aggressive”, considered the altitude, the weather conditions and, above all, the size of the aircraft. Some have also pointed out that the aircrews pulled off their “display” at the end of a long ferry flight from the U.S., and fatigue might have been a factor too.
Un #rasante #irresponsable de quienes deberían ser responsables@PresidenciaArg @JefaturaAR @MindefArg @AeroparqueAEP @BoeingAirplanes #B757 #presidenciaAR @CasaRosada #casamilitar @GuilleLobo https://t.co/a5UushCm2h pic.twitter.com/r0sNItBghP
— Pucara Defensa (@PucaraD) May 26, 2023
In must also be said that flying ultra low level over the Aeroparque in Buenos Aires is not something new. On Dec. 12, 2007, for the 100 años de la aviación civil argentina (100 years of Argentine Civil Aviation), a Boeing 737-500 “LV-BEO” belonging to the Aerolineas Argentinas performed a really low flyby escorted by an IA-63 Pampa jet trainer and a Learjet. At least, that time, the weather was fine..
Incrideble 😎 low-pass 👏 pic.twitter.com/epEVeIEJa9
— Aviationdaily✈️الطيران يوميآ (@Aviationdailyy) March 31, 2019
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
