Navy reviews low-altitude Blue Angels flyover that disrupted Florida beachgoers

The Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration team said it is conducting a safety review after a jet flew unusually low over a crowd on Pensacola Beach, Florida, sending sand, chairs and tents into the air. The squadron said the aircraft descended below standard arrival-maneuver profiles, causing a disturbance on the beach.

"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 Blue Angels statement read. "The safety of our hometown community, spectators, and our pilots is our highest priority. Team leadership is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the maneuver and conducting a thorough safety review to ensure all operations adhere to strict Navy and FAA safety standards," the statement added. Assistant to the Defense Secretary Sean Parnell posted a picture of the flyover on social media, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tweeted about the incident, referencing the continued flyovers. The incident follows a recent controversy involving low-altitude flights by Apache helicopters over crowds in South Carolina, which led to temporary suspensions of the pilots. The Navy has not indicated any injuries and says the review will determine whether procedural changes are needed.