Terror as US Navy jet flies so low over beach it blows umbrellas over

Buzzed beachgoers were left stunned when a maverick jet pilot whizzed just feet above their heads in a shocking air show flyby now under review by the US military. Frightening social media footage shows an aircraft from the elite US Navy Blue Angels, the American equivalent of the British Red Arrows, hurtling past familes in deck chairs watching a display on Pensacola Beach, Florida, on Wednesday.

Aviation buffs on the packed shoreline can be seen filming another jet flying some distance away when suddenly the second aircraft appears from nowhere right over their heads. Powerful thrust from the Super Hornet jet engine was so close it sent chairs and beach umbrellas flying and left some parents craddling their children in stunned horror, while others cheered with joy.

The aircraft was near enough to the spectators that the letters of “US Navy” were clearly visible on its wings in footage shared online.

In a statement The Blue Angels said the team was “conducting a thorough safety review” and admitted the flyby had resulted in a “disturbance on the beach that affected civilian chairs and umbrellas”.

Despite coming face-to-face with a jet fighter aircraft capable of hitting 1,190 mph, the crowd of mostly aviation fans appeared enthused by their close encounter.

Beachgoer Ashley Korn admitted to an ABC news channel that she thought she was going to be “taken out” by the aircraft, but added: “I’ve been coming for 10 years and I’ve never seen a pass like that in my life.

“I literally thought we were going to be taken out by Blue Angels, but it was amazing.”

And spectator Samantha Mayne added that the jet looked “huge because it was so close”.

“All of our tents got knocked down. It was worth it. It was awesome,” she said.

The Pensacola Beach Air shows takes place over three days every July. This year was a bumper event to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of the Blue Angels.

In a statment the Blue Angels said: “The US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, is aware of social media footage showing a low-altitude pass by a team aircraft over Pensacola Beach earlier today.

“During an arrival maneuver, an aircraft flew lower than standard profiles, resulting in a disturbance on the beach that affected civilian chairs and umbrellas.

“The safety of our hometown community, spectators, and our pilots is our highest priority. Team leadership is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the maneuver and conducting a thorough safety review to ensure all operations adhere to strict Navy and FAA safety standards.”

The investigation comes after US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth reversed a ban on eight Apache helicopter pilots who were suspended after a low flying incident during US Independence Day celebrations on July 4.

Video footage from the “Salute from the Shore” event appeared to show the National Guard pilots flying extremely low over packed beaches in North and South Carolina.

South Carolina National Guard confirmed the suspensions of the pilots had been lifted.