Blue Angels, Thunderbirds fly over NYC, Philadelphia, parts of NJ to honor health care workers

The Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds flew over New York City, Philadelphia and Trenton, N.J., on Tuesday. 

The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds announced the joint planned flight path as part of a display aimed at honoring health care workers on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.  

The 40-minute flight over Newark and New York City began at noon by the George Washington Bridge. Footage captured from the flight showed the aircraft flying near famous New York Landmarks like the Freedom Tower and the Brooklyn Bridge. 

U.S. Navy Blue Angels, Air Force Thunderbirds fly past One World Trade Center as part of a tribute to first responders on the front lines of the coronavirus battle. https://t.co/E0JdKnbfFZ pic.twitter.com/IBJ2d2ZQBj

— ABC News (@ABC) April 28, 2020

Blue Angels and Thunderbirds over the Brooklyn Bridge pic.twitter.com/kVHgV8Xkgv

— Shelby Holliday (@shelbyholliday) April 28, 2020

The next 30-minute flight over Trenton and Philadelphia began at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. 

(1 of 2) #AmericaStrong ANNOUNCEMENT: We’re heading your way New York City, Newark, Trenton and Philadelphia on Tuesday! Check out the overhead times and route on the graphic below.#InThisTogether#HealthCareHeroes@NYGovCuomo@NYCGov
@NYCHealthCareSystem@NJGov@phillymayor pic.twitter.com/1R3l6PChui

— Blue Angels (@BlueAngels) April 27, 2020

“Residents should observe the flyover from the safety of their home-quarantine and should refrain from traveling to see the flyover,” the Blue Angels said in the announcement. 

New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania – The Blue Angels and @AFThunderbirds are headed your way.

The flyover will start at 12 pm (EDT).

Stay tuned here for updates and schedule changes ! #AmericaStrong #InThisTogether pic.twitter.com/cmFXGugyZ7

— Blue Angels (@BlueAngels) April 28, 2020

New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania – The Thunderbirds and @BlueAngels are headed your way.

The flyover will start at 12 pm (EDT).

Stay tuned here for updates and schedule changes ! #AmericaStrong #InThisTogether pic.twitter.com/WhwUv3c1M6

— Thunderbirds (@AFThunderbirds) April 28, 2020

The flyovers are part of what the Trump administration is calling Operation America Strong.

President Trump thanked the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds Thursday morning for the planned flyovers. 

Thank you @BlueAngels and @AFThunderbirds! #AmericaStrong https://t.co/oZyFJBT90h pic.twitter.com/bq0VOKYsmd

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2020

When President Trump announced the flyover plan last week, he said the idea came from the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds crews as a way to support the medical workers.

“This is a tribute to them, to our warriors, because they’re equal warriors to those incredible pilots, all of the fighters that we have for the more traditional fights that we win,” Trump said at a White House briefing last week. 

New York and New Jersey are the two states with the most reported COVID-19 cases, with 291,996 and over 111,188 confirmed cases, respectively. 

Pennsylvania reported 43,648 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide.

Updated 12:45 p.m.