A plane, that appears to be a commercial jet tailed by fighter jets, is a "pre-planned" military flight taking photos of the Statue of Liberty, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Reports from some eyewitnesses indicate it may be Air Force One.

"It is pre-planned, pre-coordinated with everyone involved," said FAA spokesman Jim Peters. "It's a military flight over New York to take photos."Several lower Manhattan buildings were evacuated as a precaution.

Peters, who stressed it is not an emergency, said the flight is circling the Statue of Liberty and New York City to take photos.

Peters said city officials as well as state government agencies in New York and New Jersey were briefed on the flight in advance.

Numerous people have called the Advance newsroom worried after seeing the low-flying plane on the North Shore.

The incident invoked memories of Sept. 11, 2001 when two hijacked commercial airliners flew into the World Trade Center towers.