A pilot with the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron has been removed from the team for failing to meet expected standards, the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) confirmed to the Pensacola News Journal.
Maj. Scott Laux, who was in his second year with the elite unit, will not perform in any remaining shows this season. The reason for his dismissal was not publicly disclosed, but a CNATRA public affairs office statement indicated it was due to "failing to uphold the standards expected of members of the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron."
The Blue Angels performed with five jets instead of their usual six during the NAS Pensacola Homecoming Air Show in Florida on November 4 and 5. Laux's absence from the team's official website also appears to have coincided with his dismissal.
Laux had previously spoken in defense of the squadron's low-altitude flyovers following a controversial incident over Pensacola Beach in July. During the team's annual "Breakfast with the Blues" event, jets flew at an extremely low altitude over the shoreline, causing tents, chairs, and umbrellas to be swept away by sand.
Laux, originally from Chantilly, Virginia, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2012. He completed Marine officer training and extensive flight training, earning his wings in 2015. He flew F/A-18 Hornets and later transitioned to the F-35C Lightning II, with military deployments including Japan and aboard the USS Nimitz. Laux joined the Blue Angels in September 2024 and served as the team's narrator in 2025.
The Blue Angels, established in 1946, are known for their precision aerial performances across the United States. Their missions include demonstrating the pride and professionalism of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to the public.