A pilot with the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron, Maj. Scott Laux, has been removed from the team for "failing to uphold" its standards. The dismissal forced the squadron to perform with five jets instead of the usual six at its season finale in Pensacola, Florida.
The Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) confirmed Laux's removal, identified as Blue Angel No. 6, to the Pensacola News Journal on Friday. Laux's photo and biography are no longer featured on the Blue Angels' official website.
The incident comes months after a controversial low flyover by the Blue Angels over Pensacola Beach in July that sent debris flying, raising public safety concerns. Laux, who had served as the team's narrator in 2026, defended the team's low-flying displays following that event. "We appreciate the trust in support and it’s our privilege to be able to perform in that way," Laux told Rolling with Madrina after the incident. "We’re gonna keep bringing the heat and continue doing it safely."
Navy and War Department leaders had previously defended the flyovers. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in July, "Flight debrief complete. No reprimands. No firings. No problem. That’s the sound of Freedom! Semper fi and Hooyah." War Secretary Pete Hegseth also indicated support, stating, "The flyovers will continue until morale improves."
Laux, a native of Chantilly, Virginia, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2012. He flew F/A-18 Hornets with Marine Corps squadrons and deployed to Japan before joining the Blue Angels in September 2024. He had accumulated more than 1,300 flight hours and 169 aircraft carrier landings throughout his career. His awards include two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and multiple unit awards.