ONE DEAD AFTER A U.S. NAVY BLUE ANGEL JET CRASH IN SMYRNA

SMYRNA — One person has been reported dead after a U.S. Navy Blue Angels jet crashed following takeoff during a practice flight around 3 p.m. Thursday, according to a county fire dispatcher.

--> Larry Farley, Rutherfold county fire chief, said his dispatchers were told one person was killed. It is unclear if it was the pilot or a bystander. Steve Fiebing, deputy public affairs officer for the Naval Air Forces, said the jet crashed at 3:01 p.m. He would not release information on the condition of the pilot. He said the Naval Air Forces would investigate. The pilot has not been publicly identified. Witnesses said all other Blue Angels aircraft landed and were on the ground.

 

 A fireball and thick black plume of smoke from the crash could be seen just beyond the runway at Smyrna airport and from interstate24.

Helicopters circled the area and first responders cordoned off nearby areas. Bright yellow police tape kept residents of the nearby Fairway Meadows Apartment complex, at 93 Weakley Lane, at a safe distance.

Jennifer Elliott was in her yard watching the Blue Angels practice. She went inside just before the crash and said she felt the explosion at their house, which is about a mile from the Smyrna airport.

”It sounded like car crashed into my house,” she said. “Everything shook.”

Minutes later, she said she could hear sirens and the other Blue Angels team were circling over the smoke.

Rebecca Durand was in her car with her son Jordan when they saw the jet go down. Durand said she saw the nose of the jet come straight down. She thought it was a stunt.

"Instead, I just saw this big orange explosion," she said.

"Just like in the movies," Jordan Durand said.

Correspondent: Oscar


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