Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is continuing to support low-altitude military flyovers, a stance that has drawn new scrutiny following a recent incident where a Navy fighter jet buzzed a crowded Florida beach. The Pentagon has previously dismissed safety reviews for similar flights.
Video circulating on social media showed a jet from the Navy's Blue Angels demonstration squadron flying at a very low altitude over a beach in Pensacola, Florida, on Wednesday. The maneuver caused chairs and tents to be swept away and sand to be kicked up, prompting attendees to cover their ears. The U.S. Navy initially stated it was conducting a "thorough safety review."
However, on Thursday, Hegseth posted on his personal X account, "The flyovers will continue until morale improves," without further explanation. Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's top spokesman, echoed this sentiment on social media, posting "Carry on Patriots" alongside an image of a Blue Angels jet flying close to onlookers. The White House also shared a cartoon on X depicting people on a beach photographing a Blue Angels jet, with the caption "Freedom" and "It's okay to love America."
This is at least the third instance where Hegseth and other Trump administration officials have publicly supported military aviators performing maneuvers that have attracted both public attention and military investigations. In two previous cases, Hegseth's remarks coincided with the termination of safety investigations.
Regarding the Florida flight, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao stated that the Navy had "no problem" with the maneuver and that no reprimands or firings would occur. Hegseth retweeted Cao's social media post. Cao later stated that the Blue Angels conducted a "flight debrief," but Navy officials did not confirm if this debrief constituted the "thorough safety review" previously mentioned.
Experts have raised concerns about the safety implications of such low-altitude flights. Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety consultant who previously investigated crashes for the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, expressed shock at the leadership's response. "It's shocking to me as an aviation safety professional that the top leaders of the military would excuse this type of reckless behavior," Guzzetti said. "A cavalier attitude like that can only lead to accidents in my view."
The Florida incident follows similar events. In March, video surfaced of two Army helicopters hovering at a low altitude near the Tennessee home of musician Kid Rock during a training exercise. Although Army officials initially stated the crews were suspended pending an investigation, Hegseth intervened, lifting their suspension and ending the investigation with the declaration, "No punishment. No Investigation. Carry on, patriots."
In another case, eight South Carolina National Guard helicopter pilots were suspended after performing a low-flying maneuver over beachgoers during a July 4 event. Less than a week later, Hegseth announced on social media, "We'll fix this," and the suspension of the pilots was subsequently lifted. Parnell posted, "Carry on Patriots."
When questioned about whether Hegseth's recent posts indicated a halt to another safety investigation, a Pentagon spokesman stated, "I have nothing further to provide at this time."
Guzzetti warned that the military's leadership excusing such actions sends a dangerous message. "That sends out a powerful signal that this type of deviant behavior is acceptable and, in fact, desired," he said. "And that's dangerous. That's the antithesis of a good safety culture."
Mary Schiavo, former Transportation Department Inspector General, noted that while these flyovers might not technically violate military regulations due to different standards compared to civilian flights, they remain risky, especially the high-performance maneuvers by demonstration teams like the Blue Angels. "They are air demonstration teams, and what they do is exceedingly dangerous — amazing and wonderful — but dangerous," Schiavo said. "And so it is really not something to be performed over people."
Despite the controversy, some attendees have viewed the flyovers positively. Alexandra Belcher, a Florida beachgoer, described the Blue Angels' recent flyover as a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" and "so cool."
A Navy official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the Blue Angels' next scheduled show on Saturday would proceed as planned.
Past incidents highlight the potential dangers of military aviation. The NTSB criticized the Army's safety system following a 2023 midair collision that killed 67 people, stating it failed to address hazards. In April 2025, a woman in Japan died after the rotor wash from an Air Force helicopter knocked her down. An Air Force investigation into that mishap cited "allowing deviation from safe spectator distances" and an "operational mindset fostering a false confidence of safety."
In 2011, a Blue Angels commander stepped down after performing a low-altitude maneuver deemed "unacceptable" by the Navy, leading to the cancellation of several air shows that year.