The Air Force has indefinitely grounded its Thunderbirds demonstration team as a result of a crash Thursday in Colorado, which could cost the 2016 Toledo Air Show its headlining act if the grounding lasts more than six weeks. The pilot safely ejected and was not injured.
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But the team must participate in a safety investigation and can’t perform at the Kirtland Air Force Base air show this weekend, base spokesman Jim Fisher said.
An Air Force Thunderbird jet crash in a field Thursday outside Petersen Air Force Base in Colorado following their flyover for the Air Force Academy graduation, causing the team to temporarily stand down for an undetermined amount of time.
Obama gave the commencement address at the ceremony. “I would have been a little more upset than he was”. Units from Peterson Air Force Base responded to the scene along with local police and fire officials, according to a Tweet.
Turner’s parents say he was chosen to fly with the Thunderbirds in 2015 and was scheduled to fly with the Thunderbirds in Rhode Island later this month.
In an incredible coincidence, not long after the incident in Colorado, one of the Navy’s elite Blue Angels crashed on takeoff during a practice session in Smyrna, TN, near Nashville. Kyle Jameson, center, Jeffery Herrala and the Class of 2016 toss their hats into the air as the Thunderbirds fly over Thursday, June 2, 2016, at the end of the 2016 Commencement ceremony at Falcon Stadium on Air. “I don’t know”, he said.
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Alex Turner, ejected safely and is walking around unhurt, according to the US Air Force Air Combat Command. The Blue Angels canceled their scheduled performance for that air show.
