🇺🇸 Blue Angels Pilot Killed in Tennessee Airshow Crash

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.info/archives/360 Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday afternoon

, killing the pilot in what witnesses described as an explosive vertical collision with the ground shortly after takeoff.

The A tragic accident struck the U.S. Navy’s elite Blue Angels demonstration team when one of their F/A-18 Hornet jets crashed during a practice session in Smyrna, Tennessee, resulting in the death of the pilot.

The crash occurred shortly after 3 p.m. during a routine practice flight ahead of the Great Tennessee Air Show. Witnesses near the Smyrna Airport reported seeing the jet maneuvering at high speed before it suddenly lost control, clipped a tree line, and exploded upon impact in a nearby field. Thick black smoke was visible for miles as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

The Navy later confirmed the death of the pilot, Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, a 32-year-old from Durango, Colorado. Capt. Kuss had been a member of the Blue Angels since 2014 and was flying the No. 6 jet, typically used for solo performances in the demonstration team’s formation.

According to the Navy, Capt. Kuss was completing a maneuver when the crash occurred. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident. The jet was one of six aircraft used by the Blue Angels, who are renowned for their high-speed, high-precision flying that pushes the limits of both pilot and machine.

The crash site was quickly secured by military and local law enforcement officials. No one on the ground was injured, but several buildings and vehicles in the vicinity were damaged by debris. The safety of the public was a top priority as first responders worked to extinguish the fire and assess the damage.

Vice Admiral Mike Shoemaker, Commander of Naval Air Forces, expressed condolences to Capt. Kuss’s family and praised his service. “Captain Jeff Kuss was a brave and skilled aviator who proudly represented the Navy and Marine Corps,” Shoemaker said in a statement. “His loss is deeply felt by all who knew him and by the entire aviation community.”

The Blue Angels canceled their performances for the remainder of the weekend as the team mourned the loss of one of their own. It was a somber reminder of the risks faced by military aviators, even during training and exhibition flights meant to inspire and entertain the public.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Defense are cooperating on the investigation, which will examine flight data, maintenance logs, pilot records, and witness accounts. Such investigations can take months to conclude and often lead to improved safety procedures and training protocols.

Capt. Kuss, a husband and father of two, was widely respected by his peers for his professionalism and dedication. A graduate of Fort Lewis College and the U.S. Navy Flight School, he had logged hundreds of flight hours in combat and demonstration roles. He joined the Blue Angels to inspire the next generation of aviators and to serve his country in a unique and visible way.

Local residents and aviation enthusiasts have created a makeshift memorial near the crash site, leaving flowers, flags, and messages of gratitude. Vigils have been planned across the country by military supporters and the aviation community.

While the cause of the crash remains uncertain, the legacy of Capt. Kuss’s service is already being honored. His commitment to excellence, courage, and public service will not be forgotten

ilot of the jet, one of six members of the Navy’s precision flying team, was taking off to start the afternoon practice when the mishap occurred about two miles from the runway in Smyrna, Tenn., Navy officials said.

Witnesses said the plane appeared to have crashed into a field.

News of the Blue Angels crash came not long after the U.S. Air Force’s flying aerobatic team, the Thunderbirds, reported one of its F-16 fighter jets had crashed near Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Thunderbird accident occurred following a flyover at a U.S. Air Force Academy commencement ceremony attended by President Barack Obama. The pilot ejected safely and met briefly afterward with the president, who thanked him and said he was glad he wasn’t more seriously injured, according to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

In Tennessee, the Blue Angels group had begun practicing at 3 p.m. for an airshow this weekend in Smyrna. The Blue Angels, which fly F/A-18 jets, drew attention Thursday morning when they flew over downtown Nashville.

A U.S. official says the pilot was identified as Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. 

Dale Sawyer, an area aviation enthusiast who was watching from the Smyrna airport, said the six Blue Angel jets had just begun their practice when the crash happened.

One pilot began flying straight up in the air for a solo stunt, but when the pilot looped back toward the ground, the jet did not pull out of the loop in time and crashed, Sawyer told the Los Angeles Times.

Hosie Holomon, a local resident who was driving near the airport, said the jet was flying “vertical to the ground” when it crashed.

“It was the biggest explosion I’ve ever seen in my life,” Holomon said.

“Never once have I seen an explosion like that,” said another area resident, Russell Tyler, who said he’s grown up with the sound of Blue Angels flying overhead every summer.

The precision flying team had promoted its upcoming weekend air show on its Facebook page, promising a flyover at Nashville International Airport Thursday morning before the team made its way to Smyrna. “We hope you’re ready to see Blues in the sky, Nashville,” the team posted.

Officials in Smyrna quickly locked down the airport and one of the other jets was circling around and around, presumably searching for the pilot, said Sawyer, who added that he didn’t see the pilot eject or see a parachute. The other five Blue Angel jets were not involved in the incident and landed safely moments later.

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, Sawyer said.

The F/A-18 is a twin-engine fighter attack jet made by Boeing Co. that has been a fixture on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers since 1983.

There have been at least four crashes and five deaths involving Blue Angels pilots since 1980, according to a search of news reports. The most recent fatal crash came in 2007 in South Carolina, when a 32-year-old Blue Angels pilot crashed into a residential neighborhood in one of his first shows with the team.