Blue Angels To Fly Over Long Island To Honor Coronavirus Workers

LONG ISLAND, NY — The United States Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds will fly over Long Island soon as part of a multi-city tour to thank first responders and essential workers for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Washington Post Wednesday confirmed rumors that had been circulating on social media for days that the demonstration squadrons would be soaring through the air to honor those on the front lines of the pandemic.

Hours later, during a coronavirus briefing, President Donald Trump said the flyovers would "show support to the American medical worker." Each squad costs at least $60,000 per hour to fly, The Post reported.

Speculation swirled Wednesday morning that the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds were to be in the air above Long Island Wednesday afternoon. The Village of Babylon said as much on its official Facebook page, but later updated its post to say the flyover had been postponed until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28.

"The flyover includes from the New Jersey East River to the Hudson River from The Statue of Liberty and onto Long Island," the village said.

The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds will fly jointly over Washington, Baltimore, New York, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Austin, The Post reported. The squads will also perform individual shows in more than 20 other U.S. cities.

The Thunderbirds flew over several Colorado cities following the Air Force Academy's graduation near Colorado Springs last Saturday.

"It does mean a lot, and it makes you realize that people do really care and see what we’re doing even though they’re not able to come in the hospital,” Kim Clark, a nurse at University of Colorado Hospital UCHealth, told CBS Denver of the flyover.

The flyovers will not feature stunts and will avoid passing areas where people might congregate to promote social distancing, Axios reported.