Remember that Air Force One flyover in Manhattan that scared New Yorkers into thinking another 9/11 was underway?

Well, the White House has decided to release the reason for the flight: Publicity photos to show off the presidential plane, with the Statue of Liberty in the background. The New York Daily News called it a photo oops.

A White House report on the incident "will be concluded at some point this week," said press secretary Robert Gibbs. "We'll release its findings and release a photo."

Reporters have been demanding the photo for days, citing the administration's commitment to transparency. White House wavering had earned the president some of his toughest criticism to date. Talk show host David Letterman had joked, "is it just me or is Obama 'Bushing' it up a little bit on this one?"

The issue may also surface today when New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg visits with Obama to discuss education.

Above is a cellphone photo of the April 27 incident. We'll post the White House version when we see it.

(Posted by David Jackson; photo by Jason McLane, AP)