John Elway and members of the Denver Broncos extended their condolences after Pilot Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss was killed Thursday in a crash during a U.S. Navy Blue Angels practice run.
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The Navy said in a news release that the pilot was beginning to take off during an afternoon practice session when the crash happened.
“The other five Blue Angel jets were not involved in the incident and landed safely moments later”, the Navy said in a statement. No other injuries were reported.
Kuss hails from Durango, Colorado and has accumulated in excess of 1,400 flight hours and 175 carrier-arrested landings.
As onlookers waited to be let out of the airport, Sawyer said a staff member who appeared to be with the Navy team drove up to the gate and asked the gate attendant if they had a good contact for a chaplain.
Jennifer Elliott was in her yard watching the Blue Angels practice.
All of the Blue Angels pilots would have been stationed at Pensacola Naval Air Station at some point in their careers before doing their two-year tours with the Blue Angels, he said.
The Great Tennessee Air Show will proceed as scheduled on Saturday and Sunday. The Blue Angels, which fly F/A-18 jets, drew attention Thursday morning when they flew over downtown Nashville.
“The airshow community is a tight-knit group, and to cancel the airshow would be a disservice to the men and women who have worked tirelessly to bring their love of aviation to communities like Syracuse”, she said.
Last year, I had the privilege of being a Blue Angels passenger, flying along with Capt. Kuss.
Rebecca Durand was in her vehicle with her son Jordan when they saw the jet go down. “But, sometimes it’s just not meant to be”, Henley said.
“Instead, I just saw this big orange explosion”, she said.
The last fatal crash involving the Blue Angels was a 2007 crash in SC. “I have ordered the Metro Courthouse and Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge to be lit yellow and blue tomorrow night in honor of the life and service of this courageous pilot”, Mayor Barry continued.
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After the Air Force Thunderbirds made a flyover at the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony and was returning to Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, one of the jets, piloted by Maj. Multiple sources confirmed that was the 26th fatal crash by a Blue Angels pilot. “His favorite toys were jets, and he wanted to be a Blue Angel since forever”.
