Navy Removes Marine Major From Blue Angels
Maj. Scott Laux will not perform in the remaining 2026 shows after the Navy removed him from the flight demonstration squadron.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Military
Live Poll
Do you trust the military to hold its own members accountable?
The Navy removed Marine Corps Major Scott Laux from the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron, and he will not take part in the team's remaining 2026 performances. The Blue Angels flew five jets instead of six during the November 6 homecoming show in Pensacola, Florida.
Why it matters
Officials said Laux was removed for failing to uphold the standards expected of members of the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, though the Navy has not disclosed the specific conduct involved. The removal affects one of the country's most visible military aviation units, which typically performs about 60 shows a year at 32 locations.
The Blue Angels fly the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, with a squadron of 158 active duty Sailors and Marines. Laux had served as the number 6 opposing solo since September 2024, and the team flew five jets instead of six at the November 6 Pensacola show.
The players
Blue Angels
The U.S. Navy's flight demonstration squadron, known for precision aerobatic performances flown in F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.
Scott Laux
A Marine Corps major and Blue Angels pilot who previously served as the number 6 opposing solo.
The details
The Navy removed Laux's photo and profile from the Blue Angels pilot list on its official website. Laux, a 2012 U.S. Naval Academy graduate who earned his wings of gold in 2015, had served as the number 6 opposing solo and will not participate in the remaining performances of the 2026 season.
Timeline
September 2024: Laux begins serving as the number 6 opposing solo.
November 6: The Navy removal is announced and the team flies five jets at the Pensacola homecoming show.
November 7: The Blue Angels perform their final show of 2026.
March 2027: The Blue Angels begin the 2027 season.
Season Trajectory
The removal comes as the Blue Angels approach the close of their 2026 schedule with a final show on November 7, shaping how the squadron enters its March 2027 season start. It also marks a departure from the team's standard six-jet formation at its usual roughly 60 annual performances across 32 locations.
Spectators attending the remaining 2026 Blue Angels performances will see the team without Laux in the number 6 opposing solo position. Viewers planning to catch the squadron in the 2027 season can expect the team to resume its regular schedule in March.
The takeaway
Military flight demonstration teams operate under strict public-facing standards, and personnel removals can change a show's formation mid-season. Readers following the Blue Angels can track the 2027 schedule as the squadron resumes performances in March.
What happens next
The Blue Angels will perform their final show of the 2026 season on November 7 and begin the 2027 season in March.
Further reading
For more on the broader military branch, see Military.
Live Poll
Do you trust the military to hold its own members accountable?
