This low-altitude flight took place during the annual “Breakfast with the Blues” event on Pensacola Beach, Florida, and was captured on a mobile phone video that has since become very popular online.
Officials at the Pensacola Naval Air Station said they are conducting an investigation to determine how the plane could have flown so low, causing chaos on the beach as people ran to retrieve lost hats and tents.
“During the maneuver, the aircraft flew lower than specified in the standard flight instructions, causing confusion on the beach that affected civilian chairs and umbrellas,” the statement said, describing the stunt as a “low-altitude flight.”
“The safety of our hometown community, spectators, and our pilots is our highest priority,” the statement continued, as quoted by The Independent newspaper.
“The team leadership is reviewing the circumstances related to the maneuver and conducting a thorough safety assessment to ensure all operations comply with the strict Navy and [Federal Aviation Administration] safety standards.”
Event participant Ashley Korn told ABC News partner WEAR: “I have been coming here for 10 years, but I have never seen such a flyby in my life. I just thought the Blue Angels would sweep us away, but it was amazing.”
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“It was impressive because everything happened so close. All our tents were blown away… But it was worth it. It was amazing,” said another event participant Samantha Mayne.
Founded in 1946, the Blue Angels is the second oldest official aerobatic flight team in the world; it consists of six U.S. Navy pilots and one U.S. Marine Corps pilot flying Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
The Blue Angels team will not be punished
Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao stated that the Blue Angels pilots who performed the low flight over the Florida beach will not be punished or fired once the flight review is completed.
“No reprimands. No firings. No problems. This is the sound of freedom!” Hung Cao wrote on the social network X, as quoted by CBS.
On Thursday, a Defense Department official commented on the incident. Defense Secretary’s aide Sean Parnellis, who posted a photo on social media capturing the plane’s flyby, said: “KEEP GOING, PATRIOTS.”
