Washington, D.C., residents preparing for Halloween weekend received an unexpected scare Thursday evening when a military aircraft conducted a low altitude flyover with little advance notice. The unusual sight and sound rattled people across the District as Halloween activities were getting underway.

The Qatari donated Boeing 747-8i, known as Air Force One when President Donald Trump is aboard, flew over the capital as part of a Halloween celebration. Its low altitude quickly turned the flight into something more startling than the usual seasonal jump scare.

The White House had opened its doors for the annual tradition of welcoming trick or treaters when the large aircraft passed overhead. Video posted on social media showed the jet above the event, surprising guests near the White House and residents elsewhere in Washington.

The D.C. Council said online after the flight that it received only 15 minutes of advance notice. According to the council, the Pentagon and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were also given the same brief warning.

That limited notice apparently did little to calm the nerves of officials or residents watching a Boeing 747 move across the city at low altitude. The council acknowledged the reaction plainly, saying, “It startled many, including us.”

AlertDC sent residents a notice at about 5:20 p.m. advising that a flyover would take place over the National Mall area during the following hour. For many residents, however, the aircraft still arrived as a jarring Halloween surprise.

A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson told Military Times that the flyover had been coordinated with the agency. The spokesperson declined to say when the agency was informed that the flight would occur.

Videos shared on social media showed the aircraft flying over the White House twice. The jet traveled low above buildings and homes in Washington before passing directly above the White House.

The aircraft also flew below the height of the Washington Monument during portions of its route, according to the videos. That visual gave residents an unmistakable reference point for just how low the massive jet appeared over the city.

The Washington Post reported that the aircraft traveled at altitudes ranging from 400 to 1,000 feet across Washington. The Washington Monument stands about 555 feet tall, placing part of the reported flight range below the landmark’s height.

That low flight path prompted alarmed reactions on social media. Residents described feeling unsettled or frightened, while one person wrote online that they believed an aircraft was going to crash.

The scene carried particular weight because the flyover occurred one year after a fatal collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. An American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter collided in midair over the Potomac River.

That crash killed 67 people, making the sudden appearance of a low flying large aircraft especially disturbing for some Washington residents. The source did not report any safety problem involving Thursday’s flyover, but the sight was enough to spark fear.

The Halloween timing created an odd contrast around the White House. Children and other guests were arriving for the annual celebration while a Boeing 747 moved across the capital with only limited public warning.

The D.C. Council’s statement captured the central complaint surrounding the event. Coordination had occurred with the Federal Aviation Administration, yet local officials said they, the Pentagon and the nearby airport received only a 15 minute heads up.

The aircraft completed its passes over the White House, but videos and social media reactions continued circulating afterward. What was intended as a Halloween celebration instead delivered a very real fright to residents watching the enormous jet sweep low over Washington.