NASHVILLE — A video showing the U.S. Navy Blue Angels plane crash in Smyrna that killed the pilot Thursday shows a massive fireball and moments later four other Blue Angels jets flying by the wreckage.
The pilot of the F/A-18 jet was taking off to start a practice flight when the crash occurred at 3:01 p.m. CT, according to the Naval Air Forces. The pilot was identified as Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, according to The Associated Press.
The video, which was shot by Briann McGriff, includes witnesses sobbing and crying out: "No. Oh, guys look up. Oh no no no. God bless his soul."
Belinda McGriff said her granddaughter was taping the video in a field near Smyrna Elementary School while watching the airshow.
"We seen a Blue Angel come down real low behind the trees on the other side of Sam Davis and then boom. A big, big billow of fire came up," Belinda McGriff said. "We could feel the heat off of it, we were that close."
