Two separate crashes involve Blue Angels, Thunderbirds jets
ATLANTA - Officials said two separate crashes involving the Navy and Air Force flying demonstration teams happened just an hour apart Thursday.
Around 3 p.m., a U.S. Navy Blue Angel jet crashed in Smyrna, Tennessee, shortly after takeoff, according to a U.S official. That same official said the pilot did not eject and was likely killed. The official spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
App users: Click here to watch the briefing on the Blue Angels crash
Harry Gill, the town manager in Smyrna, just outside Nashville, said the pilot was the only casualty. Some power outages were caused by the crash, but no civilians were hurt.
Five other F/A-18 jets landed safely moments after the crash.
"My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the Blue Angels after this tragic loss. 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," Adm. John Richardson, the Navy's top officer, said in a Facebook post.
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