Final Flight: The Blue Angels Tragedy One Year Later

On June 2, 2016, the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels took to the skies over Middle Tennessee. During the show, something went wrong and jet #6 crashed and pilot Marine Captain Jeff Kuss was killed.
News 2 covered the details on what unfolded that day and remembers Capt. Kuss in this 30 minute documentary originally aired in 2017 on News 2.
Read more on News 2: "Wednesday marks 5 years since Blue Angels jet crash in Smyrna": bit.ly/2SQvo9r
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[@getstuk87]

I feel for those kids. I lost my dad who was a very experienced pilot to a plane crash he was the pilot in. He had many different ratings and thousands of hours. He idolized the blue angels and left me photos of the blue angels among a few other things. I was 4, now 35. He was my hero and to this day I am infatuated with aircraft. Those kids have a hero who they will be so proud of being his children. My dad was no blue angel pilot but I am still his biggest fan.

[@hakimasfat5068]

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 6?

[@gusgus404]

I know man I’m my dads biggest fan I grew up from a football and a aviation family my great uncle was the Restin Rifle and my grandpa was a good bull rider he also had a Mooney M-20 but sold it for the movie he made Peace River.

[@acaponera22]

I am an Aircraft Electrician on the E2-D Advanced Hawkeye for the US Navy....Thank you Capt Kuss for your service and may you RIP🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@nelitasciretta7101]

Rest in Peace Marine Captain Jeff Kuss, thank you sir for your service and your dedication...

[@batphink2655]

I'm not American but saw The Blue Angels in the late 80's at Toronto Airport ,they were absolutely astonishing! RIP Capt Jeff Kuss and God Bless your family! 🙏🙏

[@dustdevilz4771]

Nose down in that jet so close to the ground with its afterburner on wouldn’t be survivable. Very sad for him and his young family.

[@Spartanm333]

Respect from England and a lovely tribute from WKRN. Best wishes to the family and all those affected by this tragedy.

[@sofializzy4519]

Rest in Peace Warrior. Thank you for your service. Never forgotten. Prayers for your family. 🙏❤

[@cherylbanquer6514]

My prayers for his wife and children, also for his fellow Blue Angels. 🙏

[@judithtaggart7146]

When my husband was stationed in Yuma, AZ, as an A4 instructor pilot in VMAT 102. We would pack up loads of snacks and drinks. take the kids to the hangar, sit in our folding chairs and watched from the edge of the runway. It was so exciting. You would hear the roar of the engines first, then see the formation take off. It is still vivid in my mind. Our kids are now adults, one a pilot in the Marine Corps. His oldest son plans on following in his dad and grandfathers footsteps.

[@anthonybenash3457]

As a normal no body kind of guy. I was honored once to hang out with the Blue Angels at Sun N Fun in Florida. They were a humble and amazing group of men. God bless him

[@nancyhunziker8130]

What a beautiful story and honor to Capt. Kuss and the Blue Angels. God, please watch over these noble men and their families. Please protect them on these unselfish journeys to make our communities a better and more loving place. I know Capt. Kuss's children will grow up being full of pride of their dad as he deserved. God Bless you all for the gift you give this country and nation.

[@p.cowart7286]

My niece was in that apartment. He stayed with the plane instead of ejecting.

[@janwalters3426]

Captain Kuss, Thank you for your sacrifice and service to this wonderful country.🇺🇲💙 Semper Fi.

[@NavyCWO]

Rest in Peace Capt. Kuss!

[@SteveBlakes]

The Blue Angels, I grew up with them in El Centro, CA, winter training grounds. An Air Show every day for three months. F-4 Phantoms over the sky, 1968-1971. I road my bike nearly every day onto the tarmac for the take-off, airshow and landing. NAF security seemed to always care less of the kid on his bike. In those days, I had built a diamond formation streaming from the top-corner of my bedroom. In those days I lived for the incredible Blue Angels. In 2008 I escorted my elderly mother to an air show featuring the Blue Angels at the Twin Falls Idaho airport. She asked, I gratefully obliged. Mom's gone now but I will attend the 2025 Magic Valley Airshow in Twin Falls, featuring the US Navy Blue Angels. To this day I weep over Smyrna, TN. and pray for our USA.

[@rodneymiller1062]

God bless you and your wife and kids thank you for your service 😢

[@spawntez]

Semper Fi Capt. Kuss. You will always be remembered in our beloved Corps. Thank you to all the citizens who stepped up and honored this fallen angel.

[@maxsmith695]

Do you know what the bible calls a fallen angel ?

[@alwaysachevysilveradogirl7475]

@@maxsmith695 That is NOT what @spawntez was referencing. Get a grip!

[@maxsmith695]

@@alwaysachevysilveradogirl7475 - Blue Angels need to do their part to slow climate change and stop during so much fuel. Priorities matter

[@coRb77]

Very sad outcome! Totally unbelievable that this also can happen to the best of the best up in the skies. Thanks for making a very well made report on this unfortunate incident.

[@michelebaker6001]

I grew up I Annapolis Maryland , Home to the Naval Academy. I watched the Blue Angels go over my house every year when they practiced for Graduation. I would go down to the Severn River to watch the shows. RIP dear Captain.

[@luvthetux]

My dad, son, niece, nephew, and myself saw them in Knoxville, TN that year in April before he died in Smyrna.

[@jaynekeller3652]

Great story So Sad Thank you for your great service sir Hugs to the family ❤

[@jumboslice1514]

The Navy concluded that it was pilot error which may be so but the pilot was heroic in the fact he kept the plane from hitting any occupied buildings. RIP Capt Kuss and condolences to your family

[@itsmax871]

He saved so many lives that and as well I live in Smyrna They are so much of our community we love them so much

[@wandaalvarez117]

Thank you Caltain Kuss, for your service and yiur sacrifuce RIP . God Bless your family

[@JoanClaussen-tq8et]

WE LOVE AND MISS YOU JEFFERY. THIS BROUGHT TEARS TO MANY AN EYE. LOVE TO ALL YOUR COMRADES. CONDOLENCES TO CHRISTINA AND KIDS. NEBRASKA🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@manifestgtr]

That Todd Harris dude seems really cool. You can tell that the students really like him and wanted to see him fly with the blue angels

[@lorileary4432]

I was LUCKY enough to see them several times, when they came to Twin Falls, Idaho, tween 2008 & 2020, it was awesome !

[@dwizzleusa4202]

That sunlight reflecting off #6 during that photo flight was God's way of saying #6 Blue Angel will come home little before the others.

[@bonitabren1395]

Amazing story and pictures. GOD bless every one involved. Blessings to his family. May he rest in peace AMEN

[@AmericaVoice]

You can hear that the 911 dispatcher got slightly emotional right the end of one of the calls at :44. Very sad.

[@virginiaswafford7078]

Remember this well . Also the one in Beaufort S.C. it was the 6th as well.i was there and saw it go down. Was heartbreaking. But i keep going back because they are amazing and i love airshows.

[@streetwearjimmy]

As a junior HM (hospital corpsman) that worked under a flight surgeon at my first command at Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi, I had the opportunity to be present at the NASCC flight line as the blue angels landed and positioned their aircraft in a orderly fashion in front of one of the hangars. Commanding Officer (at the time) of the base and naval aviator Capt Brock along with a small group of folks welcomed them (and meet and greet all the blue angel pilots and staff) to south Texas in preparation days prior to the Wings Over South Texas Air Show that was held the weekend of April 13-14th 2019. That day was so captivating I still have all my Snapchat memories and videos from that year. They also returned back to Corpus Christi in 2022 for the same air show that I sadly missed (PCS’d to Camp Lejeune)

[@BonnieRogers-i1j]

How sad this is. Captain Kuss RIP. Hopefully your family is getting along okay. God Bless the whole family and of course the Blue Angels. Please keep yourselves safe.

[@shaunroberts9361]

Outstanding report!!! God Bless the Kuss 's family. 23:25

[@USAIRFORCE621]

One of the most beautiful tributes I saw to Capt. Kuss was from our friends and neighbors to the north, when the RCAF Snowbirds paid tribute to this outstanding fallen Marine, Semper Fi sir!!

[@lazervision2602]

I'm surprised nobody has said anything after 4 days. This Blue Angel's pilot is Navy, not Marines, sir. 23:12

[@richardstrick]

He is a Marine Corp pilot. He is a Captain and you will not find 32 YO captain in the Navy.

[@johnseals3559]

This breaks my heart, see you in heaven Kuss!

[@TheHisrose4]

I don’t cry often, but this one got to me. Prayers for his wife, children, parents, siblings, and all other family members, Co-angels, friends, and community who loved him. ❤️😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️

[@deborahbrown6289]

When the BLUE ANGEL come to town I go to see them. I love looking up and seeing them.. They are part of America , which makes this country great.. God Bless the Blue Angeles.. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸❤️

[@pammerle1691]

I did not hear of this tell now and it brought tears to my eyes. I have always said that the Blue Angels are Americas Angels. May he Rest in Eternal Peace. He walks with Jesus now in TOTAL PEACE, A ETERNITY OF PERFECTNESS and EXTREME BEAUTY. MY Condolences to his family and all the Blue Angels and America.

[@mikebartlett7728]

Rip sir and never forget

[@timbarber5843]

Godspeed Capt Kuss😢

[@KACDWFCD]

Rest in peace🙏🏼 Captain Jeff Kuss🙏🏼 Semper Fi forever🙏🏼

[@UDPride]

How can you do a half hour on this tragedy and then not even disclose how and why it happened. Those are the two most important questions everyone is tuning in to understand so we can attempt to prevent it in the future. The pilot deserved that modest amount of respect so others could learn from this. That's the essence of Naval aviation - debriefing, evaluating, and being better pilots from successes and failures.

[@carolineedwards4759]

R.I.P Captain Kuss

[@sherrymccaslin907]

Such a tragedy such a hero! God bless his family

[@ericneal7194]

I was living in Smyrna TN when this happened. Very tragic! There were people actually trying to steal plane parts after this. Some people have no respect.

[@andiestringfellow3221]

They are beautiful to watch, but when like 5 planes are flying 2 inches apart upside down, directly over your house, that's scary for home owners.

[@paulpillow7641]

Such a professional group, the Blues. RIP Capt Kuss... Semper Fi.

[@derickdouangnouanexay]

Who knew that one miss calculation can cause a tragic that fast even professional pilot can mess up rip captain thank you for ur service

[@davidwheatcroft2797]

Why did he not eject? Did the seat fail? They do. I'm guessing a major malfunction that did not give him a chance. We lost 2 guys at my airfield one year. In the circuit at 800ft; aileron falls off; dead. We were never shown the wreckage; just quietly shelved. All the very best to our pilots, "Once we were warriors."

[@kdawg2472]

I’m pretty sure he was trying to avoid killing innocents on the ground. At least that what I read somewhere

[@davidwheatcroft2797]

@@kdawg2472 F.18 seats have failed before. A CF.18 ejected the pilot while inverted at low level, killing him. The Blue Angels amazing pilots. Jets in some ways safer for formation - with prop planes, the danger is another propeller hitting your canopy and your head. Fin. But formation flying major fun. Is the real way to learn to fly. No more left, right, up down, just BE 2ft off the lead's wingtip - the plane a part of you.

[@Shea89-e6v]

He didn't eject, because the plane would have when down in a nearby neighborhood. So instead of ejecting he went down in the field. This was a sad day. We even honored him in my hometown Pensacola.

[@davidwheatcroft2797]

@@Shea89-e6v Regardless, I respect the man. I have been in a similar situation (a spiral dive in heavy cloud) with seconds to live. You MUST just focus on doing the right things - screw the Vne, screw the engine over revving, screw the altitude.......just act from your training. It changes you.

[@canberra5567]

@@Shea89-e6v he did eject its in the crash investigation report but by the time he did it, it was too late and his chute was incinerated by the fireball

[@mishajackson7813]

❤❤❤ Thank you for your service

[@carlosaguilar7256]

Semper Kooch. Always in our hearts. #FightsOn #VMFA312🦅🌎⚓ #SemperFidelis

[@Lisa101-x9x]

RIP Captain Kuss ❤ 💙

[@Nonukes2024]

Capt Kuss. Amen.

[@BonnieKetterman-qw8vd]

I really love watching the blue angels at these wonderful air shows I'm from Ohio

[@Chris05161967]

The nagging question I have, is. Why didn't Capt. Kuss eject when the plane's downward trajectory was away from civilians and any structures.

[@jamesburns2232]

Capt. Kuss was probably thinking about ejecting but, in the end, he waited too long to pull the ejection handles and he flew through the crash. 🤔

[@mikejones9961]

i saw the BA 1n the late 90s warming up the day before the show

[@johnshields6852]

I saw them when I was 10 in 1970 in Weymouth, Mass. The naval air station that's gone now, it was amazing in person, at that time and the late 60's my uncle Jack was in Vietnam piloting the F4 phantom so there was a lot of pride of past veterans in my family from WW1 and WW2, we stayed every morning at school with pledging allegiance to the USA, then drilled for incoming Russian nuclear bombs, we were told because Boston's east coast city we'd be one of the first bombed.

[@michianadroneservicesllc858]

It's hard to watch. Not the video, but someone at WKRN needs to re-edit the sound. Both left and right channels, at the same time please.

[@jamesellison9588]

Did the accident report say anything about causal factors? Was there a mechanical issue with the aircraft?

[@paulprigge1209]

Pilot error. To slow and too low. I They think he had pilot fatigue

[@halbogatz600]

What is the description of Pilot fatigue?

[@lw216316]

I was there that day. You may have seen the rainbow in the video. There were a lot of clouds around. Some of the clouds were as low as 2100 feet or so. The move number 6 was trying to make required more room than that. I think the exact numbers are in the accident report. That report was available to the public at one time. I don't know if it still is. I seem to recall it was another 200 feet more or less that was need in order to complete the turn before hitting the ground. As I recall, the official cause of the accident as reported by the accident report was pilot error. So to me that would rule out a problem with the altimeter. Speculation on my part but maybe the pilot thought he could complete the turn in the space he had and went for it even though the altimeter showed there was not enough recommend altitude above ground. Someone ask about pilot fatigue. The pilots have a demanding schedule. There was some concern that the pilot may have been fatigued from a demanding schedule leading to a bad decision. I was at the memorial service and heard the pilot's wife speak and the mayor of Smyrna. There was a lot of love expressed. It was very moving. I live in the area and drive by the memorial where a Blue Angel jet is on display. I fly remote control airplanes as a hobby. I used to own a Blue Angel plane and fly it. I would think of number 6 and the air show when I did. The 2023 airshow will be in June. The Blues are coming back to fly. May they have blue skies and calm winds and may God bless them with safe flights.

[@mikejacobs2886]

@Hal Bogatz Although they pull considerable Gs in some sequences, they don't wear G suits like a regular fighter pilot would on a mission. Pilot fatigue is when you just pulled hard G and begin a second maneuver, but your maybe still close to a Grey out or G Lock just coming out of your last maneuver. I think he was conscious, he just stayed with it trying to avoid any civilian damage. Any Navy Aviator would have done the same thing. He sacrificed so others could live, I believe.

[@JPM-NM]

@@halbogatz600 Just what it sounds like--you are tired. Those arrival days are brutal for the pilots. They take off, usually early in the morning and fly out to the show site. Then they land, refuel, then they take off again and fly around the airshow site finding visual reference points for their maneuvers, called Circle and Arrival. Those flights usually involve doing some of the airshow maneuvers as well. They typically then land, refuel again and fly a full practice while their checkpoints are fresh in their minds. In this case, after the solos did their C & A and THEN did a photo shoot with Sean D Tucker. To do all of that and then land and fly fly a full show must have been really brutal. I listened to a podcast with a former Blue Angel (on the team in the 90s) who said that Thursdays were the hardest, and that they would sometimes try and talk the Boss out of flying a practice on that day. He was very sympathetic to fatigue being a factor in this crash,.

[@KenSerpico5450]

I remember seeing the Blue Angels when they performed during the Confederate Air Force Air Show in Harlingen, TX.

[@LoosMoose]

Thanks for that... Confederate AirForce and I was there flying in AirSho 81-83

[@mangui9301]

RIP 🙏🙏🙏🙏🇨🇺🇺🇸🛩🛩

[@manueltubens535]

I am saddened and I feel for him, his wife, and kids.

[@simonjester0074]

Poor volume

[@markb2255]

why do they fly these dangerous maneuvers over populated areas? Isn't that dangerous to the citizens below?

[@kathleensmith7123]

A terrible day 😢

[@guyrussell9233]

NOT A DROP OF SOUND ON THIS VIDEO!! COULDN’T HEAR ANYTHING AT ALL!! A GREAT SHAME!! NINA

[@richardpark3054]

I love flying and airplanes. I'm ex-USAF navigator and have owned 4 little planes (my current plane is a Republic Seabee, N6007K). But I don't frequent airshows due to the high accident rate. RIP.

[@elizabethkuchta5097]

When West Midlands Ambulance Service, Nhs. Royal Stoke Universty Hospital. So Proud.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@djbowler3333]

The MOST UNNESSARY LOSS OF LIFE. Not in combat. Not even with g suits.

[@ElizabethTyler-n3t]

I dream this crash dozens and dozens of times it's so weird to see it happened. Rip

[@batphink2655]

Sure you did, ca you tell of the next one? we'll need names please.....?

[@diapricea4888]

Give us a heads up on events you dream, and then they manifest. 😢

[@oceancat0450]

I can’t imagine being in plane 5 and seeing his friends plane go straight down. Then the panic when the other planes saw the explosion.

[@oscarpimentel3315]

God receive him with love

[@thomengel9720]

Was there ever a cause discovered?

[@waltmooredanwilson8754]

Thanks for sharing your video. I enjoyed watching. Take care and God Bless.

[@sashadala346]

Why risk a life like that?

[@barbaradugan]

the BLUE ANGELS are awesome what a tragedy to lose 1 ANGEL LAS VEGAS

[@mikejacobs2886]

Don't really know all the details, but sounds like he could of punched out, but probably was trying to avoid hitting anything civilian. Staying with it to the last second would be exactly what any Navy Aviator would have done. He made the sacrifice so others could live.

[@ElizabethTyler-n3t]

I thank God I wasn't there I've seen them in Annapolis I've seen the many times at patuxent River naval Air station and thank God I didn't have to see such horrible thing

[@ResolUloseR]

"Knock it off" over comms had to hit so damn deep that day...

[@jamesburns2232]

Captain Jeff Kuss died doing what he loved. It's a great privilege to be able to fly a multimillion-dollar jet and get paid for it. 😇

[@texperry4382]

Any official word on the cause from either the NAVY or the FAA ? Was this an LOC incident ?

[@joerichards2730]

this story mentioned that it was pilot error..he simply went too low to recover..sad but true

[@knarftrakiul3881]

Look like he flew vertical and lost control and fell straight down. He didn't even try to eject

[@Car_lover_2014]

😔😔😔

[@SOSchangedme]

Lord bless his family ❤️

[@YongMingPor]

Reminds me of Thunderbirds 6 in 2003, but in that case chris stricklin managed to eject

[@amygriesinger6285]

I didn’t even know that happened :(

[@williamparsons7010]

Oh, matter it's the 20th of may and the Blue Angels are here today at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, I think they wil do ok today! May the lord watch out over all exercise's at the base and keep them safe.

[@jeremylowe2309]

I appreciate his service, I do. But the Blue angels are a trick show. It’s gonna happen sometimes. And people who don’t understand that , don’t understand reality. Perfection isn’t real. I respect the man for his service to the country.

[@MrCyp200la]

❤RIP

[@samuelhipple923]

Well done

[@kirbygriffin]

The video shows an extreme g-out and the plane climb with an apparently unconscious pilot

[@petergmoskowski3764]

I met 1 of Senior blue angels Pilot-I didn't care much at all for conversation bcuz' what they do is not necessary risk."where's the grip' on reality'?"...

[@nighthawk333ST]

A lot of emo and no info...

[@BrettManZA80]

Why didn't he just eject? There have been ejections in the past.

[@lophan9125]

He was probably passed out from the g force

[@coreybellamy2175]

how come i starting think he was in a power dive and was to low to put out

[@cathoare8935]

Rip 🙏

[@juniorthompson9303]

Air shows are beyond stupid. I took my family to only one of them. I left that day so damn mad . I couldn't believe how dumb it all was. They actually pulled a stunt where they acted like some drunk guy stole a plane and flew it dangerously close to the crowd while the announcer was crying wolf on the loud speaker. I will never ,ever, be at one of these vivid representations of human stupidity again.

[@MonaeMalome-dq6ru]

❤ God Bless his wife and children..May they never want anything from America..May they be embarrassed by his fellow Blue Angels ❤

[@karitahannikainen4734]

Why show these? Money!!!

[@DjD5]

You watched it, didn’t you?✌🏼

[@karitahannikainen4734]

@@DjD5 Who,what?