Woman Sues Blue Angels Over Cat’s Death: ‘State-sanctioned acoustic torture’

Seattle climate activists are calling for an end to the upcoming U.S. Navy Blue Angels airshow, voicing concerns over environmental and health impacts from the jet performances, including one woman who blames the military jets for “traumatizing” her cat, according to Fox News. The Airshow Climate Action Coalition, which includes local groups and members of Extinction Rebellion, recently erected a prominent billboard in Seattle reading “Say No to Blue Angels.” The group alleges that the Blue Angels’ low-flying maneuvers generate significant carbon emissions—estimated at 670 tons over a single weekend—along with noise pollution and what they describe as displays of militarism.

Protestors plan a march and rally on August 2 to coincide with the airshow’s Seafair festival appearance, a Seattle tradition since 1972. Their campaign also includes a petition to remove military jets from the event, which has reportedly received over 5,000 signatures.

At the billboard unveiling, demonstrators carried signs reading “Demilitarize Seafair” and “No military airshows,” asserting the jets contribute to “war trauma” and excessive noise. The activists are reportedly demanding that the military airshow be scrutinized for its “harmful waste of resources, pollution and carbon emissions.”

Aedan McCall, who helped design the billboard, cited personal adverse effects from years of exposure to the airshows as a reason for leaving Mercer Island. “The sheer amount of carbon emissions the Blue Angels create – 670 tons in one weekend – is immense and wasteful on top of being a big display of U.S. militarism, McCall told The Seattle Times, according to Fox News.

In a separate development, Seattle resident Lauren Ann Lombardi filed a lawsuit against Blue Angels officers. She claims her elderly, critically ill cat experienced fatal “panic attacks” triggered by the jet noise during their 2024 show, leading to her pet’s euthanasia. Lombardi called the airshow “state-sanctioned acoustic torture” while describing how they “terrorized” her cat. Lombardi also accuses the Blue Angels of blocking her critical comments on Instagram and seeks a court order to prevent viewpoint-based account blocking.

The Blue Angels, featuring 140 active-duty Sailors and Marines, are described by the Navy as aiming to “showcase the excitement, precision, and power of naval aviation.” Despite ongoing opposition, they remain a Seafair highlight, promoted by supporters as an inspiring demonstration of naval skill and tradition.