US Navy Blue Angels pilot dies in plane crash

June 3, 2016

Illustration: A US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron aircraft takes off and accelerates to perform a Low Transition/Split S on Takeoff at the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show, May 14, 2016. Photo: US Navy — Illustration: A US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron aircraft takes off at the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show, May 14, 2016. Photo: US Navy

A U.S. Navy ‘Blue Angels’ pilot died from injuries following a plane crash at the Smyrna, Tennessee airport, June 2.

The F/A-18 aircraft assigned to the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron crashed during the beginning stages of an afternoon practice at approximately 3:01 pm, CDT.

The pilot of the jet was taking off to start the afternoon practice when the mishap occurred. The plane crashed approximately two miles from the runway.

The navy said that the name of the pilot and side number of the aircraft will not be released until 24-hours after the next-of-kin notifications have been completed.

The other five Blue Angel jets were not involved in the incident and landed safely moments later.

As a result of the incident, Blue Angels will not participate in the air show this weekend and the Navy will conduct an investigation into the cause of the crash.

In another incident on the same day, a U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 crashed at the annual Air Force graduation ceremony in Colorado Springs, attended by President Barack Obama.

The Air Force pilot walked away from the accident unharmed as he managed to eject before the aircraft hit the ground.