A member of the U.S. Navy’s elite Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron sent beachgoers screaming and their chairs and umbrellas tumbling after soaring over them at an exceptionally low altitude.
The low-level flypast occurred during the annual “Breakfast with the Blues” event in Pensacola Beach, Florida, and was captured in phone footage that has since gone viral.
Officials from Naval Air Station Pensacola have said they are conducting a review into how the jet involved came in so low, sparking chaos on the sands as spectators were sent racing off to retrieve their lost hats and tents.
“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 read, referring to the stunt as a “low-altitude pass.”
“The safety of our hometown community, spectators, and our pilots is our highest priority,” it continued.
“Team leadership is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the maneuver and conducting a thorough safety review to ensure all operations adhere to strict Navy and [Federal Aviation Administration] safety standards.”
Ashley Korn, an attendee at the event, told ABC News’s affiliate WEAR: “I’ve been coming for 10 years and I’ve never seen a pass like that in my life.
“I literally thought we were going to be taken out by Blue Angels, but it was amazing.”
“It was so big we thought it was Fat Albert,” said Samantha Mayne, another observer, alluding to the Blue Angels’ famous support plane, which is actually currently undergoing maintenance at Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge in the U.K. and will not be ready to return to action until next year.
“It was huge because it was so close. All of our tents got knocked down… It was worth it. It was awesome.”
“I’m gonna remember that probably for the rest of my life,” added Lane Wilkerson, having clearly enjoyed himself.
Formed in 1946, the Blue Angels are the second-oldest formal aerobatic team in the world and is comprised of six Navy pilots and one Marine corps pilot, who fly Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Super Hercules.
They perform around 60 shows annually across the U.S., plus two in Canada, and pride themselves on showcasing “the professionalism, excellence and teamwork found in all Navy and Marine Corps units, as well as provide the thrill and magic of flight to people each year.”
