Officials with the U.S. Navy's elite Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron are conducting a review after social media footage showed a jet flying low over a crowd of beachgoers in Pensacola Beach, Florida, on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred during a "Breakfast with the Blues" event.
In a statement, the Blue Angels described the maneuver as a "low-altitude pass" during an arrival. "An aircraft flew lower than standard profiles, resulting in a disturbance on the beach that affected civilian chairs and umbrellas," the statement said.
One witness, Ashley Korn, told North Florida ABC affiliate WEAR that she had never seen a pass like it in her 10 years of attending the event. "I literally thought we were going to be taken out by Blue Angels, but it was amazing," Korn said.
The Blue Angels emphasized that the safety of the community, spectators, and pilots is their highest priority. "Team leadership is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the maneuver and conducting a thorough safety review to ensure all operations adhere to strict Navy and FAA safety standards," the squadron stated.