Blue Angel Phantoms

What Really Happened to the Blue Angels on 9/11

Ryan Nothhaft

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0:00 | 30:37

The Blue Angels on 9/11 – A Firsthand Account | Produced by Ryan Nothhaft

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels were in the middle of a routine practice when the world changed forever. In this powerful conversation, we hear directly from those who were there—Boss Rob Ffield, the Commanding Officer and Flight Leader in 2001, and Scott “Intake” Kartvedt, the Opposing Solo Pilot at the time.

Together, they recount:

  • The final Blue Angels jet team flyover of the World Trade Center in June 2001

  • The moment they were forced to abort a maneuver mid-flight on the morning of 9/11

  • How the team prepared to shift from demonstration squadron to combat-ready unit

  • The emotional return to airshows and what it meant to represent the U.S. military in a time of national grief and unity

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