After what many Blue Angels fans called a thrilling low pass during the “Breakfast with the Blues” just days before the Pensacola Beach Air Show, the U.S. Navy says the pilot involved did not perform in the show as a “proactive safety measure” but will continue to fly in future air shows.
During the July 15 practice flight, No. 3 pilot Lt. Chris Houben performed a turn unusually close to the beach, kicking up sand and flinging umbrellas into the sky.
After that, Houben was noticeably absent from the remaining Red, White and Blues Week performances July 16-18 — including the official Pensacola Beach Air Show.
Although many fans of the Blue Angels expressed disappointment and launched a social media campaign urging the Navy to “free No. 3,” the Blue Angels told the News Journal that his removal was a precautionary measure rather than a punitive one.
“Following the low-altitude pass on July 15, team leadership, in a collaborative process with leaders at the highest level, made the decision to fly a five-plane formation for the Pensacola Beach Air Show,” the Blue Angels Public Affairs Office told the News Journal in a statement. “This is a proactive safety measure, not a punitive one, that allows the squadron to maintain its commitment to operational excellence while a thorough internal safety review is conducted.”
When asked if Houben would perform in the Boeing Seafair Air Show happening Aug. 1 and 2 in Seattle, the team’s public affairs office told the News Journal that the “Blue Angels plan to return to their signature six-Delta formation at the next scheduled demonstration.”
How did Lt. Christ Houben perform the low pass?
Neither the Navy nor the Blue Angels officially revealed the cause of the low pass, but Houben reportedly spoke to Rep. Michelle Salzman regarding the incident, telling her it was a mistake.
“He didn’t make excuses. He didn’t try to shift blame,” Salzman wrote on Facebook. “He simply talked about the miscalculated a turn, something no pilot ever wants to experience, especially one who has dedicated his life to flying at the highest level of precision. More than anything, he talked about the weight he’s been carrying since that moment.
“He shared that he was shaken by what happened and needed time to process it. You could see the disappointment on his face,” Salzman added. “This wasn’t someone brushing off a mistake, it was someone who holds himself to an incredibly high standard and was deeply affected by falling short of it.”
Navy Secretary says no reprimand amid safety review
Following the low pass, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao took to social media after the team’s flight debrief.
“No reprimands. No firings. no problem,” Cao said on X. “That’s the sound of Freedom!”
Although there have been no reprimands, the Blue Angels told the News Journal that there is an ongoing safety review being conducted.
When asked if Houben would participate in ongoing practices, the Blue Angels responded, “As a matter of policy, the Navy does not release the names or personal details of individual personnel while an internal safety review is ongoing. All squadron members remain fully engaged in operational preparations and continue to support the team’s mission.”
Benjamin Johnson is the breaking news, crime and military reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He covers local law enforcement, courts, breaking news and military within Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. He can be reached at bjohnson@pnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: We finally know why Blue Angel No. 3 didn’t fly at Pensacola Beach Air Show
Reporting by Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
