A Blue Angels pilot was killed during a practice flight near Nashville, Tenn., Thursday afternoon, the Navy confirmed.
The F/A-18 fighter jet pilot did not eject and was killed during takeoff. His name has not been released.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the Blue Angels after this tragic loss,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said in a statement. “I know that the Navy and Marine Corps Team is with me. We will investigate this accident fully and do all we can to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
PHOTO: Blue Angels jet crashes in Smyrna: https://t.co/okh2N9tBV0 pic.twitter.com/VmAtPtmvZf
— WKRN (@WKRN) June 2, 2016
The Navy said the crash occurred about 2 miles from the runway at the Smyrna, Tenn., airport. Five other Blue Angel jets were not involved and landed safely.
There were air shows scheduled for this weekend, the Tennessean reported.
A U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 crashed earlier on Thursday after a flyover of the Air Force Academy’s graduation ceremony in Colorado. That pilot is OK.
