Defense Secretary Defends Low-Altitude Military Flyovers Amid Safety Review Scrutiny

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media that low-altitude military flyovers would continue, following a Navy Blue Angels jet that passed close to a crowded beach in Pensacola, Florida, on Wednesday. The maneuver caused chairs and tents to be displaced and prompted the Navy to announce a safety review.

The Pentagon’s top spokesperson, Sean Parnell, posted a supportive message alongside a photo of the jet, and the White House shared a cartoon linking the display to patriotic sentiment. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao also indicated that the flight would not result in disciplinary action and that a standard debrief had been conducted.

Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti, who previously investigated crashes for the NTSB and FAA, warned that low-altitude flyovers have been associated with past accidents and expressed concern about the leadership’s response. Former Transportation Department Inspector General Mary Schiavo noted that while the maneuvers may not violate military regulations, they involve significant risk when performed over people.

The incident follows earlier instances in which Hegseth intervened in investigations of low-altitude flights involving Army helicopters, including a 2023 event near a celebrity’s residence and a 2024 July 4 sweep by National Guard pilots in South Carolina. In each case, the Secretary’s statements used the phrase “Carry on, Patriots,” and subsequent reports indicated that suspensions or investigations were lifted.

When asked whether the recent posts signaled an end to the current safety review, Pentagon spokesperson Jacob Bliss said no further information was available at that time.