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Fighter Jets Spotted In Low 'Flyover' In Skies Above Fairfield County

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — The sight of multiple fighter jets flying over parts of Fairfield County on Sunday afternoon created buzz in the air and on social media. 

A Facebook video from the town of Westport shows fighter jets flying over downtown on Sunday afternoon.

A Facebook video from the town of Westport shows fighter jets flying over downtown on Sunday afternoon.

Photo Credit: Westportct.gov/Facebook/screenshot

Some observers thought the jets were headed to a football game — but no NFL home games were being played in the area. Others thought it might be a practice for ceremonies for Monday's 16th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. Some feared the worst — a new danger. 

But it turns out the low-flying jets overhead were for part of a flyover at the men's final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Queens, N.Y. The match was set for 4 p.m. Sunday.

The New York City Office of Emergency Management sent out a Tweet: "Planned Flyover: five F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft will fly over the Hudson River, over Manhattan & to the US Open (QN) on 9/10 btwn 3PM-4PM."

Fairfield First Selectman Mike Tetreau advised his residents directly on Twitter: "#FairfieldCT - Low Flying Jets overhead part of US Open Flyover. Just FYI."

The town of Westport put up a video on Facebook: "Just some fighter jets enjoying Westport scenery!"

Posts on Facebook and Twitter were spotted from residents in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford and Westport. Many reported multiple passes by the jets overhead — and by as many as five jets at a time.

The  five F-15 E Strike Eagle aircraft from the U.S. Air Force eventually traveled over the Hudson River, passing Liberty Island and the USS Intrepid before the U.S. Open flyover, according to the New York City Police Department. They then proceeded to Newark Liberty International Airport.

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