Defiant Hegseth Army Chief clears Blue Angels pilot who sent beachgoers diving for cover: 'No firings'

By ELINA SHIRAZI, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 22:54, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 22:54, 16 July 2026 Beachgoers in Pensacola Florida had their tanning interrupted by a Wednesday morning practice run by the Blue Angels fighter jets, sending screams into the crowd as the planes shot by with great speed. In videos, umbrellas and hats are seen flying into the air as sand swirls in the area and people are seen holding their ears and falling over due to the force. While hundreds of onlookers tracked a fighter jet cruising its usual route over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, a second aircraft suddenly shattered the peace, roaring low over the water right behind it. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted on X Thursday that, 'The flyovers will continue until morale improves.' Coming on the heels of two viral military helicopter flyovers earlier this year, the stunt triggered a tense internal review by the Blue Angels - even as it drew cheers high-ranking Trump administration officials and even some beachgoers. The dust had barely settled before acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced Thursday afternoon that the flight debrief was already complete. 'No reprimands. No firings. No problem,' he posted on X. 'That's the sound of Freedom!' The Pentagon's chief spokesman Sean Parnell, also shared photos of the close flyovers on X with the message: 'Carry on Patriots.' Just weeks earlier on July 4, South Carolina National Guard pilots swooped so dangerously low over a crowded beach that the military swiftly grounded them Beachgoers in Pensacola Florida had their tanning interrupted by a Wednesday morning practice run by the Blue Angels fighter jets, sending screams into the crowd as the planes shot by with great speed While hundreds of onlookers tracked a fighter jet cruising its usual route over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, a second aircraft suddenly shattered the peace, roaring low over the water right behind it The Blue Angels initially said in a statement that their flyover was being reviewed by their leadership team The White House X account even chimed in with an illustrated photo of the beachgoers holding out their phones to photograph the plane, writing, 'It's okay to love America.' The Blue Angels initially said in a statement that their flyover was being reviewed by their leadership team. 'The safety of our hometown community, spectators, and our pilots is our highest priority,' they wrote in the statement. The Pensacola pass marks the third in a chain of defiant military flyovers to capture the public's attention. Just weeks earlier on July 4, South Carolina National Guard pilots swooped so dangerously low over a crowded beach that the military swiftly grounded them. That stunt echoed a spring incident where the Army suspended two helicopter crews for gliding over the Tennessee estate of musician Kid Rock and a No Kings' rally that also took place nearby. Experts say pilots are usually required to fly 500 feet above people.