SMYRNA, Tenn. -- A U.S. official says the pilot killed in a Blue Angels jet crash today was identified as Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, according to the Associated Press.
The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, according to the Associated Press.
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., according to the Naval Air Forces. The crash was about two miles from the runway.
"The Navy is deeply saddened by the loss of this service member," a statement from the Naval Air Forces reads. "We extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the family of the pilot, and those he served with."
The other five Blue Angels aircraft landed minutes later. No other injuries were reported.
The military flight demonstration unit was in Smyrna for the Great Tennessee Airshow on Saturday and Sunday. The Blue Angels will not participate in the show, the Naval Air Forces said after the crash.
According to the Blue Angels' website, Kuss flew plane number six. He was from Durango, Colo., and graduated Fort Lewis College in 2006. He joined the Blue Angels in September 2014 and had flown more than 1,400 hours, about 150 hours more than is required to join the elite flying team.
Captain Kuss was in Hampton Roads last year for part of the Oceana Air Show. 13News Now reporter LaSalle Blanks caught up with him for a Making Your Mark segment.
A fireball and thick black plume of smoke from the crash could be seen just beyond the runway at Smyrna Airport and from Interstate 24.
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.
The crash occurred the same day as another military performance plane, a U.S. Air Force Thunderbird, crashed near Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado after a flyover during a graduation ceremony.
The crash also comes just weeks after to F/A-18 Super Hornets crashed off the coast of the Outer Banks. Both flight crews were able to eject with minor injuries.
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said she was "shocked and saddened" to learn of the fatal crash.
"The Blue Angels have served to inspire and instill national pride in men, women, and children throughout our country," Barry said in a statement. "I have ordered the Metro Courthouse and Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge to be lit yellow and blue tomorrow night in honor of the life and service of this brave pilot.”
The Blue Angels are scheduled to fly 66 demonstrations at 34 locations throughout the nation this year, which is the team's 70th anniversary year.
The pilots routinely invite guests to fly with them: Veterans, reporters and celebrities among them. Country musician Hunter Hayes was scheduled to take flight with the team Thursday and was scheduled to be in Smyrna for a briefing at 2:45 p.m. A spokeswoman for the songwriter said Hayes' team was "working closely with the Blue Angels' PR team on this matter."
The mission of the Blue Angels unit is to showcase the pride and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps through flight demonstrations and community outreach.
The last fatal crash involving the Blue Angels was a 2007 crash in South Carolina. Multiple sources confirmed that was the 26th fatal crash by a Blue Angels pilot.
In order to fly Blue Angels jet, Navy and Marine pilots must have aircraft carrier qualifications and a minimum of 1,250 tactical jet-flight hours, according the team’s website. Pilots typically serve two years before returning to their units.
Since 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for more than 484 million fans, according to the team’s website.
