BREAKING NEWS: Blue Angels jet reportedly crashes in S.C.

[Highwayman]

Blue Angels jet reportedly crashes in S.C.

Navy demonstration plane disappears during show; 1 dead, authorities say

A jet fighter flown by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels demonstration team crashed Saturday during an air show in South Carolina, killing at least one person, according to local authorities and media reports.

At least one person was killed during the incident at Marine Air Station Beaufort, but it was not clear whether it was the pilot, the Beaufort County Coronor's Office told NBC News.

A Navy official told NBC News there was an incident at the show, but did not say if anyone was injured.

Witnesses said one of the six Blue Angels jets disappeared as the planes flew low in close formation behind a grove of trees.

"They were doing maneuvers and generally when the planes loop around they cross the runway and then turn around and basically when they turned around we saw a cloud of black smoke," said Brett Hindshaw, a South African who was visiting Beaufort for the air show.

"We started counting and we saw five aircraft. Four of them landed but the lead pilot circled over the accident sight and then one or two military helicopters took off and went in that direction," he told Reuters by telephone.

"Then all the ambulances and military fire trucks stationed along the runway took off."

One witness, Fred Yelinek, told CNN the jet went down in a high-density residential area and debris hit at least one house and cars, but there was no sign of injuries to people on the ground. He said there was a "huge fireball" at the crash site.

"It's behind the tree line behind the naval air station, away from the ocean," said Hindshaw. "We can hear sirens in the distance, fire trucks and stuff beyond the trees."

The Blue Angels, based in Pensacola, Fla, fly Boeing F/A-18 Hornets.

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[StarnetGypsy]

Yeah, more sad stuff Hiway.

Watched the Angels since the 50's at hydro races, and read somewhere along the way that 1 in 7 pilots die in a crash.


Over Seattle

[jag]

Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

[jag]

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces in the sky,
Be with them always in the air,
In dark'ning storms or sunlight fair.
O, Hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air.

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by StarnetGypsy

Yeah, more sad stuff Hiway.

Watched the Angels since the 50's at hydro races, and read somewhere along the way that 1 in 7 pilots die in a crash.


Over Seattle

Yeah, got a good buddy who parachutes at most of these air-shows...don't know if he's in attendance. So much for "safe" air-space if they're coming down in occupied residental areas.



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[StarnetGypsy]

Aint nothing safe when they're in the air Hiway. They have to fly over the neighborhoods to get to the people. Saw a pilot for Bill Boeing once fly a 707 upside down in Seattle, right in front of his house

HistoryLink Essay:Boeing prototype jet performs dramatic roll over Lake Washington on August 7, 1955.

Was with a bud of mine one year at the hydro races and he parked his boat over in the south turn all alone because he worked for the park dept (Coast Guard knew him, let him be).

The Angels used us as a marker bouy and came in low & upside down sometimes about 50/ft above us .. almost rattled that boat apart. We were on LSD and the first time I heard one come up behind us I knew what the dinks felt like in nam. All I heard was a soft howl like humming thru your lips, turned around and he was right on us .. in his gun sights.

Here's a great video of an airshow showing how these maniacs work ....

When the video opens up, double click on the video so that it opens up to the full screen (or "command-4" on a Mac).

http://guyrevel.free.fr/WGP/Haute-Voltige_au_Japon.wmv

[jag]

the angels don't wear g-suits like normal f-18 pilots... all muscle control... a cough or sneeze at the wrong moment is deadly... apparently the g-suit inflation can tap the stick...

[StarnetGypsy]

Originally Posted by jag

the angels don't wear g-suits like normal f-18 pilots... all muscle control... a cough or sneeze at the wrong moment is deadly... apparently the g-suit inflation can tap the stick...

Just once I'd like to fly w/one of them. Rode in a hydro once back in '56 when I was 10. Incredible power ...

[Uncle B]

used to watch them every year as a kid, when we first moved to Fla... was always kinds standing there sort of waiting for a crash, was always amazed it never happened.

then again, i was maybe a weird kid.

[StarnetGypsy]

Originally Posted by Uncle B

then again, i was maybe a weird kid.

Not really Unc. From the time we were 8 we'd be standin in the water on Lake Washington watchin the hydros lookin for the next flip or crash, and we saw allot of them. Saw Miss Thriftway disintigrate while Bill Muncy went flyin outta the cockpit, and skimmin across the water like a flat rock.

It was just part of the whole scene ... and actually, I don't think there'd be as many people attending if there were no wrecks.

Watchin Hamburg/Berlin NFLE right now, and Berlin''s QB, Lulay, is on loan from the Seahawks. The kid had an impressive week last week and I hope that he don't sit on the bench much during pre-season this year in Seattle. Hawk coaches are famous for doing that, taking a hot player an wasting them.

Halftime: ayep, Lulay's a Seahawk alright. Throws too high driving in for a TD on the 20 an ball gets tipped for an INT. tsk! tsk! Shades of Hasselbeck ...