“The pilot died from injuries sustained during the crash”, it said, adding that the other five jets at the scene were not involved and landed safely.
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A U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilot is dead after crashing during a practice run near Nashville.
The Blue Angels pilot who died in a crash outside of Nashville on Thursday afternoon was identified as Marine Corps Capt. Jeff Kuss, a native of Durango.
The Associated Press identified the pilot as Capt. Jeff Kuss, citing a US official who requested anonymity. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity to the AP.
Jennifer Elliott, who had been watching the Blue Angels jets practice before going inside her house, said everything shook.
The elite acrobatics team was scheduled to perform at an air show this weekend. In Colorado, a U.S Air Force Thunderbird crashed near Peterson Air Force Base after a flyover during a graduation ceremony, The Tennessean noted.
Air Force spokeswoman Lt. Col. Michal Kloeffler-Howard said Thursday the pilot ejected and was uninjured.
While video of the Blue Angels crash captured the immediate aftermath, authorities said they are still investigating what caused the crash itself.
Kuss had always had a fascination with jets and learned to fly in Durango, soloing a Cessna 152 when he was just 15-years-old, according to The Durango Herald. It’s the Blue Angels right? “The Blue Angels have served to inspire and instill national pride in men, women, and children throughout our country”, said Barry in a statement.
Rob Reider, the voice of the Air Show, said Kuss left behind two young children.
“We were flying over Mount Joy and he took his iPhone out of his pocket, I wasn’t allowed to bring mine, and he started taking pictures”. And that’s why I’m here today, because I was fortunate enough to get to fly the F-18 Hornet. “It’s been a great experience every time I strap into it”. 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. Thomas Bucher, 32, of Smyrna, lives about 2,000 feet from the crash site and was outside doing yard work Thursday afternoon.
Emergency responders who picked up Turner in the rescue helicopter brought him to a spot that happened to be on the president’s motorcade route back to Air Force One. “I was hoping that he had ejected from his seat, but with him being that low”.
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This story was compiled from reports by The Associated Press and the Tribune Washington Bureau.
