Navy Clears Blue Angels Pilots After 1 Jet's Close Pensacola Beach Flyby
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 16
Navy Clears Blue Angels Pilots After 1 Jet's Close Pensacola Beach Flyby
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 16
Summary
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said Thursday the debrief found “no reprimands, no firings” after a Blue Angels jet roared low over a crowded Pensacola Beach practice event.
Videos from Wednesday showed 1 F/A-18 passing over shore, then a second flying low enough to scatter umbrellas, towels and tents while drawing both cheers and alarm from beachgoers.
The flyby was part of a scheduled practice ahead of the Pensacola Beach Air Show, where the Blue Angels are set to perform this weekend near their Florida home base.
Cao framed the incident as acceptable—posting “No problem” and “That’s the sound of Freedom!”—signaling Navy leadership will treat the viral maneuver as a crowd-pleasing display, not a disciplinary case.