Blue Angels conducting review after jet flies over Florida beachgoers

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News

July 15, 2026, 8:00 PM


Officials with the U.S. Navy's elite Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron said they're conducting a review after social media footage showed a jet flying low over a crowd of beachgoers in Pensacola Beach, Florida, on Wednesday morning.

"During an arrival maneuver, an aircraft flew lower than standard profiles, resulting in a disturbance on the beach that affected civilian chairs and umbrellas," the statement said, calling it a "low-altitude pass."

North Florida ABC affiliate WEAR reported the flyover happened during a "Breakfast with the Blues" event.


A still image from a video showing a flyover by a jet with the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels on July 15, 2026. Hayes Air Experts / Facebook
Hayes Air Experts / Facebook

"I've been coming for 10 years and I've never seen a pass like that in my life," Ashley Korn told WEAR. "I literally thought we were going to be taken out by Blue Angels, but it was amazing."

Read more: https://abcnews.com/US/blue-angels-conducting-review-after-jet-flies-florida/story?id=134800561

---

And like the other illegal air incidents, it will be excused and praised.

[Delarage]

1. High-T pilot

Either that or kid Rock was on the beach

[70sEraVet]

13. That was MY first thought!

Pilot demonstrating that he doesn't need to have his levels tested (or female pilot showing Hegseth that you can do stupid 'manly' shit without testosterone overload!).

[Prairie Gates]

2. I mean, come on

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. I see what you did there.

[True Dough]

11. "Negative, Ghost Rider,

the pattern is full!"

[Vinca]

3. C'mon people. He's just demonstrating his testosterone level.

[Stacey Grove]

5. I saw a guy in the middle of Clark Street

who had no shoes on. He was crossing to get to a garbage can to look for something to eat.

But there's money for this crap.

[QueerDuck]

6. Horrifying.

[twodogsbarking]

7. It is a display or a machine that is designed to kill people. That is beyond sick but done daily.

Disagree if you like but don't try to change my opinion.

[Happy Hoosier]

9. Hegseth has destroyed good order and discipline.

These yahoos now believe they can act with impunity if they are just "manly" enough.

[Crowman2009]

12. Then the fatal accidents happen!

So get ready for easily preventable deaths due to stupid shit.

[JohnnyRingo]

19. That is indeed where this buck stops.

I too believe he's influencing such behavior.

[pfitz59]

10. During my ground school training I heard the story of

"In the Dirt Burt", a Marine Corps A-6 pilot. He loved flying low and fast. The A-6 was an extremely loud and powerful attack jet. The story goes Burt was on his way out of the Marines and did one last flight. On it he saw a lake where a small boat sailing regatta was happening. Burt dropped down to about 20 feet as he flew over the lake, his exhaust scattering sailboats willy nilly. He laughed while watching in the mirrors.

[ms liberty]

14. They were looking at girls - but that is way too low

Pilots out of MacDill did that kind of thing regularly back when I was a kid, but never that low on a civilian, public beach. That's a big no-no, and that pilot should have been reamed by his CO later.

[ZERTErYNOthe]

15. Video posted on Reddit

In case you want to see a video of this taken by someone on the beach:

https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/1uxv04s/a_fighter_jet_flew_over_the_beach/

[BumRushDaShow]

18. There are a pile out there,,, here is one on youtube

?feature=share

[twodogsbarking]

16. So much for an impartial review.

[Cheezoholic]

17. Went to an airshow in Charleston SC 20 years ago. The thunderbirds do a maneuver that right when you think its done

A Tbird solo comes blistering directly overhead, full afterburner, from behind the crowd. If you've seen the Tbirds you're probably familiar with it. Ive seen them at least 20 times and this maneuver still scares the shit out of me lol. But this particular pass, the jet had to fly the length of the parking area before it got over the crowd. They had to stop the airshow for 20 min because it set off at least 1k car alarms all at once. It was crazy.

Yeah that pass is a bit much for an airshow. I'm pretty sure the pilot missed his incoming mark by a couple hundred feet, maybe a sudden sea breeze gust caught him/her (it's been pretty hot down there) but thats speculation on my part. They cue off of sight lines on the ground and very very seldom they miss the line. It does happen. These guys aren't Movie Maverick types. They are consummate pros and I doubt very much it was intentional. I'm sure proper measures will be taken. Anytime a safety infraction happens the Angels very are serious about finding out why. If by chance it was the pilot (which I doubt) intentionally doing it he/she will be gone.

[JohnnyRingo]

21. Yes. They are well disciplined professionals.

A mistake like this could get one of his squadron mates killed in a performance. He's gone from the group, and even Hegseth won't be able to save him.

I too have seen that Thunderbirds routine a number of time and I thought the Blue Angels do it too. Even watching for it hardly prepares me for the sudden shriek as it blasts by. I think it's because he's pushing it fast enough the sound trails behind. You never hear it coming

[JohnnyRingo]

20. He's gone. He'll still be in the Navy, but I'm sure he's done with the BA.

I say that because the squadron is all about discipline and there's a long list of hot shots who want the honor of flying his jet. He's very expendable.

"500 hundred feet from any person, place, or thing". That's the law. Even airshow pilots can't fly over the crowd.

[BumRushDaShow]

22. Discipline after the most recent aircraft "incidents" has been overruled by Kegsbreath every time.

[JohnnyRingo]

23. I don't believe the squadron will want him either.

Being disciplined in the Blue Angels is about life & death for his squadron mates.
If this was a mistake, he failed the first qualification to fly in the unit. If he did it intentionally he showed bad judgment. That would probably be the second qualification.

I'm sure a Commander will sit Pete down and explain it very slowly to him, perhaps using axe throwing as an example of how quickly such stunts can go bad.

[LeftInTX]

24. The MAGATs in the crowd probably loved it.

"Hey next time bring me my water skis!!"