Major Alex Turner was properly ejected from the F-16 jet that went down during the Air Force Academy graduation.
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“The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team will be stood down for an undetermined amount of time, following this mishap.A stand down following a significant mishap is standard procedure, allowing accident investigation officials to gather facts and ensure the continued safe operation of our aircraft”.
The Thunderbirds had just performed over the open-air graduation ceremony at the nearby Air Force Academy, where President Barack Obama spoke. (AP) – A Thunderbirds pilot ejected safely as his fighter jet crashed into a deserted Colorado area after soaring over the Air Force Academy’s commencement ceremony.
The Thunderbirds were scheduled to appear June 11 and 12 at the Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show at Quonset State Airport in North Kingstown.
The status of the Navy pilot and the cause of the crash were not immediately known. “I would have been a little more upset than he was”.
“The Thunderbirds are a huge part of U.S. Air Force history and they are such a vital element of connecting our nation to our Air Force”, Maricle said. The crash occurred while the Blue Angels were practicing for a weekend air show, local media said. “I don’t know”, he said.
The Air Force said the Thunderbirds will cancel upcoming shows while the crash is investigated, but officials did not say how long the team will be grounded. Kuss was the narrator for the Blue Angels performance a year ago at the OC Air Show.
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During a performance at the Chicago Air and Water Show in 2005, two of the jets made contact while they were flying in formation, and a missile rail was dislodged.
