The $400M Boeing 747 gifted to the US by Qatar flew so low over Washington DC it left people completely startled by the noise

The Boeing 747 gifted to the US by Qatar that’s currently used as Air Force One recently flew low over Washington DC, which gave people the chance to experience something new.

DC and Virginia residents are used to seeing and hearing aircraft operated by the government, but this was something else.

When it flew over Washington DC, the 747 went viral because of its noise.

Ironically, that’s the reason why the iconic 747 is being retired globally.

The new Air Force One is incredibly loud

On October 29, 2026, the massive $400 million aircraft performed two low-altitude passes directly over the White House during a Halloween celebration.

Although Washington DC residents are accustomed to military aircraft, the sheer size of the jumbo jet and the thunderous roar of its engines caught neighborhoods off guard.

The noise was so disruptive that citizens even received an alert warning on their phones.

However, for unclear reasons, it apparently reached citizens only about 20 minutes before the plane arrived.

As reported by local news website PopVille, and as you can see from the images, the plane was flying really close to the ground.

Why the US Air Force is facing some issues with the Air Force One program

The US Air Force is facing some issues with the Air Force One program.

The old Boeing 747 had to be replaced because it was too old and inefficient, but the new aircraft wasn’t ready yet, which explains why the US accepted the new 747 gifted by Qatar and rushed to get it ready.

The Qatari-gifted 747 was quickly overhauled and converted into an Air Force One-grade airplane.

But the thing is, the Qatari-gifted 747 – specifically a 747-8 – may be newer and more efficient than the old model used previously, but it’s still based on a model that’s being retired.

It’s like replacing an iPhone 11 with an iPhone 14 Pro: you’re still a few models behind.

This is a clearly a stopgap measure – or ‘Bridge’, which is what the aircraft is officially called.

And because it’s a stopgap measure, DC and Virginia residents in particular will have to get used to roaring thunder of the (outdated) four-jet setup that the 747 uses.

This is (indirectly) the main reason why the Boeing 747 was phased out

The 747 is an icon, but the main reason why it’s quickly being phased out across the board is its engine setup.

The 747 has four jet engines, which are loud and, more importantly, inefficient.

Over the last few decades, Boeing, Airbus, and other manufacturers have focused on twin-jet airliners that are much more efficient while being just as fast.

That’s why it is almost impossible to fly commercial on board a 747 for today, and that’s why most 747s still in service are being used as cargo jets.

It may be a bit sad because everyone loves the 747, but progress doesn’t wait for anyone.