Blue Angels dismiss aviator and public affairs officer, sources say moves unrelated

The U.S. Navy’s premier flight demonstration squadron fired a pilot for underperforming in his role and relieved a public affairs officer for unknown reasons, according to two sources. Blue Angels pilot U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Scott Laux and Marine Capt. Danielle Cribb, who served as the team’s public affairs officer, were fired in two separate incidents. “Blue Angels #6 was removed from the team for failing to uphold the standards expected of members of the Navy flight demonstration squadron,” the Navy said, referring to Laux. Cribb, who was described in one social media post as Laux’s mentee, was dismissed on a separate occasion, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. “She was removed and it was unrelated to the major,” the source said. “They had nothing to do with one another.” Cribb was removed prior to Laux’s dismissal, according to the source. The Blue Angels last performed on Friday and Saturday during the 200th anniversary of Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. The event was the final scheduled performance of their 2026 air show season. Laux joined the Blue Angels in September 2024 and logged 1,300 flight hours and 169 aircraft carrier arrested landings during his time, according to an official service biography. In July, the squadron was the subject of a brief Navy safety review after a Blue Angels aircraft flew “lower than standard profiles” over Pensacola Beach, Florida, rattling chairs, umbrellas and beachgoers. Despite the Navy’s review, individuals within the Trump administration, including the president himself and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, issued social media posts in support of the seemingly dangerous maneuver directly after it occurred. Within 48 hours of the incident, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced that the flight debrief was complete and that no punishment or firings would be issued.