Driver fleeing hit & run crash dies after attempting to ram Birmingham Gate at NAS Jacksonville
A driver who attempted to crash through the Birmingham Gate at Naval Air Station Jacksonville on Thursday morning died after gate sentries deployed the protective barrier that stopped the vehicle from entering the base, Navy officials said.
Sailors of โWar Eagleโ and โHuntsmenโ return to base after 6 month deployment
The โWar Eaglesโ of Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 and the โHuntsmenโ of Mobile Tactical Operations Center-11 begin their transition back to Naval Air Station Jacksonville on Saturday after a six-month deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.
7 students hospitalized for โmedical emergenciesโ during award ceremony at NAS Jacksonville
Seven students from Andrew Jackson High Schoolโs Air Force Junior Reserve Officerโs Training Corps were transported to hospitals after โsuffering medical emergenciesโ during a ceremony Thursday night at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, according to a news release.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NI4LFJWP3NC7LFOZJAGQDPVQAY.jpg)
NAS Jacksonville to require masks for building entry, whether youโre vaccinated or not
The Naval Air Station Jacksonville Commanding Officer is encouraging personnel and their loved ones to get vaccinated as soon as possible, but whether they are vaccinated or not, they'll be wearing masks inside buildings moving forward he said Tuesday.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TMZ3D3RKRRGKNAI2CTQXHA2I5A.jpg)
Sailors greeted by families as โMad Foxesโ return to NAS Jacksonville
Six months after embarking on an overseas deployment, the โMad Foxesโ of Patrol Squadron (VP) 5 returned to Naval Air Station Jacksonville on Tuesday. There, sailors were reunited with their families, who welcomed them with open arms.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/04-01-2021/t_d4434616bbfe4f62a4973cfc228449e1_name_image.jpg)
Eaglet finds new home at NAS Jax after falling out of nest
The Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax) Environmental Department helped save an eaglet earlier this month after it fell from its nest near a shopping plaza on San Jose Boulevard in Lakewood. The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey took the eaglet in to nurse it back to health. Thomas Morris, who found the eaglet, was there when the bird took flight. Eagle Audubon Watch says the eagle is a male & about 14 weeks old. Thereโs a family of 2 adult eagles and another eaglet at this nest!
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/05-09-2020/t_793a2632043346ac9bfc406c10b31665_name_image.jpg)
Blue Angels Air Show set for April at NAS Jax is canceled
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Naval Air Station Jacksonville leadership announced Tuesday it had canceled its planned air show featuring the Blue Angels due to COVID-19 guidelines. โWe look forward to welcoming the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels back to Jacksonville in the future,โ NAS Jax wrote in a release announcing the decision. It indicates the Blue Angels are next scheduled to perform in Jacksonville on Oct. 22-23, 2022. News4Jax was told that The Great Florida Airshow set for May 15-16 at the Orlando Melbourne International Airport is scheduled to go forward with the Blue Angels as the headline act. It will be the first time the Blue Angels have performed in Melbourne in six years.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IDOB7BA2QVHDTCKG22LGSSZO2Q.jpg)
If you hear gunfire near NAS Jax this week, itโs a training drill
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Naval Hospital Jacksonville will be holding training drills this week which could include simulated explosions and gunfire, Naval Air Station Jacksonville announced Tuesday. The drills will take place Dec. 9-11 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and residents in the area may hear loud noises during the training days. NAS Jax said the training is part of the Tactical Combat Casualty Care program which is vital to preparing Naval Hospital Jacksonville medical professionals in performing their jobs under battlefield conditions.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IDOB7BA2QVHDTCKG22LGSSZO2Q.jpg)
Hear gunfire near NAS Jax this week? Itโs a training drill
Residents near Naval Air Station Jacksonville might hear gunfire this week near the Navy base, but thereโs no reason for alarm. Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 10 will be holding training exercises from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday at NAS Jax. The training will consist of patrol boats conducting operations and firing blank rounds on Thursday and Friday near the Mulberry Cove Marina. Residents in the area may hear loud noises during the training days. Navy officials said the training is vital to preparing the team for future missions.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UW7BSHELWFHURNLYWKOGWEVHEM.jpg)
Boater found dead after collision with Buckman Bridge was former city councilman
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The search for a missing boater came to a tragic end Friday, two days after his boat capsized near the Buckman Bridge, authorities told News4Jax. Wilson Smith, a friend who had known him nearly his entire life told News4Jax that Williams was a former Jacksonville city councilman and a Lee High School graduate. Walter Williams is the last man on the right in the first row. RELATED: Boater missing, vessel capsizes after striking Buckman BridgeSmith says Williams ran a successful real estate business, Walter Williams Reality. โHe loved Jacksonville," Smith said.
LIVE: Second Lady Karen Pence & Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia visit NAS Jacksonville
Copyright 2020 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. Second Lady Karen Pence and Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia are visiting Naval Air Station Jacksonville. If you need help with WJXTโs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/08-07-2020/t_3f8288e210b54705bfdbc0f4891d09ab_name_image.jpg)
Navy helicopter squadron returns home from 7-month deployment
Navy helicopter squadron returns home from 7-month deploymentPublished: August 7, 2020, 5:37 pmVIDEO: It was a happy homecoming at Naval Air Station Jacksonville when Maritime Strike Squadron 74, also known as the Swamp Foxes, returned home from a seven-month deployment.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/08-07-2020/t_3f8288e210b54705bfdbc0f4891d09ab_name_image.jpg)
Navy helicopter squadron returns home from 7-month deployment
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ It was a happy homecoming at Naval Air Station Jacksonville on Friday when Maritime Strike Squadron 74, also known as the Swamp Foxes, returned home from a seven-month deployment. The strike squadron left on Jan. 8, 2020, and the sailors set a record by spending 206 days at sea without docking because of the ongoing global pandemic. On top of the record time on the sea, deployment in 2020 has been quite different for the Swamp Foxes because the sailorโs families werenโt the only ones worried this time. Dan Murphy, the commanding officer of Swamp Foxes. Full Screen 1 / 7 Navy helicopter squadron returns home from record-breaking deploymentThe Swamp Foxesโ 11 helicopters and 300 sailors took part in surveillance, strike coordination intelligence and reconnaissance operations, according to a release.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QEWXXJHXYFGLBO2QXUA5CPEBK4.jpg)
Aircraft depart NAS Jacksonville ahead of Isaias
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Naval Air Station Jacksonville is preparing for possible severe weather from Tropical Storm Isaias. The aircrew and maintenance sailors assigned to the P-8A Poseidon and P-3C Orion squadrons worked through the night and into the morning to evacuate the aircraft to predetermined locations ahead of Isaias, NAS Jacksonville said Sunday. Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic authorized the evacuation of 31 P-8A Poseidon aircraft and five P-3C Orion aircraft from NAS Jacksonville, with remaining aircraft assigned to Commander, Patrol & Reconnaissance Wing (CPRW) 11 and Patrol Squadron 30 to remain safely in their squadron hangars. Squadrons assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Atlantic will remain in hangars aboard Naval Station Mayport and NAS Jacksonville. The aircrew and maintenance Sailors assigned to our P-8A Poseidon and P-3C Orion squadrons worked through the night and... Posted by NAS Jacksonville on Sunday, August 2, 2020NAS Jacksonville preparingThe NAS Jacksonville commanding officer is minimizing command operations and the footprint on base Monday to minimum personnel only.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/07-12-2020/t_5086c0df4da44bfd91eac8b9527f157f_name_image.jpg)
Vice president stops in Jacksonville to thank RNC host committee
Jacksonville, Fla. โ Vice President Mike Pence delivered remarks Saturday evening at an event at Epping Forest in San Jose for the Jacksonville host committee for the Republican National Convention. A spokesperson for the RNC host committee said the vice president was at the event to thank the committee for the work being done to plan the convention, especially on short notice. Duval GOP Chairman Dean Black said the vice president thanked the host committee for the hard work theyโre doing, and for what theyโre about to do. But the host committee has a handle on it and weโre going to make history right here in Jacksonville,โ Black said. RELATED: Meet the Jacksonville Host Committee for the Republican National ConventionFlorida Gov.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/05-21-2020/t_a18c4f392c7946f38056b0c416b4b3f0_name_image.jpg)
After COVID-19 pandemic delays return, Red Lancers arrive back home in Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. There was an emotional homecoming two months overdue for a squadron at Naval Air Station Jacksonville on Wednesday. The Red Lancers of Patrol Squadron (VP) 10, based at NAS Jacksonville, returned home on Wednesday afternoon. Their return was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic after the secretary of defense on March 25 issued a 60-day stop movement order. The Red Lancers executed more than 9,000 sorties and put in more than 4,500 hours of flight time. The Red Lancers of Patrol Squadron (VP) 10, based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, return home.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/V5AL7EO2XFHZZDVWM5NTJXJELQ.jpg)
Sunday marks 1 year since plane skidded into St. Johns River
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Sunday marked one year since a charter jet skidded off the runway at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and crashed into the St. Johns River. NTSB is still investigating why the plane ended up in the St. Johns River. The landing gear separated from the plane during landing and the plane stopped in less than five feet of water. The lawyers for that passenger claimed, โMiami Air said this is Godโs fault, that this was an act of God that this accident occurred.โIn March, Miami Air filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Miami Air hopes to use Chapter 11 to reorganize and emerge from bankruptcy in a way that allows them to move forward financially.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/02-04-2020/t_660b0c393cd74b8785040913fb18e7c8_name_Brianna_Williams_Feb4_pretr.jpg)
Lawyers for Taylor Williamsโ mom want more time to prepare defense
Brianna Williams, who reported Taylor missing from their new Brentwood home in November, is charged with two counts of child neglect and one count of lying to police. Investigators now suspect Taylor was dead before Williams moved there from an apartment on the Southside bus she has not been charged with causing her daughterโs death. Prosecutors sent subpoenas to cellphone companies associated with Williamsโ accounts, as well as Google, Apple iCloud and Match.com. Prosecutors also have Uber and Lyft records, documenting Williamsโ activity with the ride-sharing services. Prosecutors told Blazs the state is still working to gather more information in the case against Williams.

Alabama man: I won't ever forget Taylor Williams' name
Teams from Jacksonville traveled to rural Alabama this week in the search for missing 5-year-old Taylor Rose Williams. IMAGES: Taylor Rose Williams |Alabama scene where remains were foundHe said someone would have to know where they were searching in order to find something out there. The investigationSheriff Williams told reporters last week that Brianna Williams stopped cooperating with the investigation after the first day of the search and was considered a person of interest in her daughter's disappearance. The sheriff said Brianna Williams was believed to have been driving her Honda Accord, which has tinted windows and black rims. Police said Brianna Williams' family and that of Taylor's biological father are cooperating in their investigation.

Police report: Taylor Williams' mother 'attempted suicide' before arrest
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The mother of a 5-year-old girl reported missing from Jacksonville last week "attempted suicide" prior to her arrest Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Brianna Williams was absentee booked and the arrest report stated she had "attempted suicide" prior to that. Hospital officials could not confirm the person on the stretcher was Brianna Williams due to privacy issues. Sheriff Williams said that while family members have been cooperating, Brianna Williams stopped cooperating the day after she called 911 to report her daughter missing from their Brentwood home. He said Brianna Williams was believed to have been driving her black 2017 Honda Accord, which has tinted windows and black rims.

Taylor Williams' mother charged with child neglect, giving false information
Duval County jail records show Brianna Williams was booked in absentia on two counts of child neglect and giving false information to law enforcement during an investigation, and the three charges carry a total bond of $1.1 million. Hospital officials could not confirm that the person on the stretcher was Brianna Williams, due to privacy issues. IMAGES: Taylor Rose Williams | Alabama scene where remains were foundAt a 5:30 p.m. news conference, Sheriff Williams would not say what the lead was that led them to the discovery. "We will ensure justice is served for Taylor Williams." He said Brianna Williams was believed to have been driving her black 2017 Honda Accord, which has tinted windows and black rims.

Taylor Rose Williams' mother has been arrested. What could be next?
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Following the discovery of human remains in the search for Taylor Rose Williams, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams on Tuesday announced the arrest of the 5-year-old's mother, Brianna Williams. "Security was surrounding her as she was rolled into the hospital," Jefferson said. According to Jefferson, Brianna Williams will be immediately transported to the jail after she's released from the hospital. As of 7:30 a.m., Brianna Williams was not yet listed as being physically in the jail, but UF Health officials said that she was "no longer in (their) system." You had everybody and their mother out looking," Jefferson said.

Sheriff: Taylor Rose Williams' mother has stopped cooperating
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - On the second day of the search for a missing 5-year-old girl, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams announced that Taylor Rose Williams' mother has stopped cooperating with investigators. Sheriff Williams was asked at the news conference whether he could confirm the last time anyone other than Taylor's mother saw the girl alive. He said "it's been a while" since he saw Taylor, but wouldn't be more specific about a time frame. Sheriff Williams said Thursday that while Brianna Williams has not been cooperating, other family members have been. GALLERIES: Police swarm neighborhood | Hundreds join search | Taylor Rose WilliamsPolice, as well as neighbors, searched into the night Wednesday.

What we know about missing 5-year-old's family
Since Taylor Rose Williams was reported missing by her mother at 7:22 a.m. Wednesday, her family has chosen to remain out of the media spotlight. Police confirmed Wednesday that Taylor's mother, Brianna Williams, had been taken downtown for questioning, and she has not yet been seen publicly. Sheriff Mike Williams (no relation) said Thursday that Brianna Williams was initially cooperating with the investigation but is no longer cooperating. SHARE: Click for printable FDLE missing child flyerTIMELINE: Key events in the search for missing Jacksonville girlRELATED: Woman says she helped missing girl's mother move, never saw child |5-year-old's disappearance a chilling reminder of past cases |What qualifies for an Amber Alert? For now, family and friends said they are waiting for Brianna Williams to speak publicly before they agree to any interviews with the media.

1st UK P-8A Poseidon arrives at NAS Jacksonville
The journey started Wednesday morning on the West Coast for the first P-8A Poseidon for the Royal Air Force. Members of the Royal Air Force and the United States Navy were on hand to welcome the Royal Air Force's "Pride of Moray." "It's a really good feeling," said Royal Air Force Wing Cmdr. "This is the start of a really, really good, long journey." Royal Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth, Royal Air Force Air Officer Commanding Number 1 Group, flew the plane from Seattle, where he said the air was crisp Wednesday morning.

Documents show Navy lieutenant lied on background checks
The News4Jax I-TEAM continues to unravel an international mystery centered on Naval Air Station Jacksonville involving a Navy lieutenant with access to top secret information and ties to China, an... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

Dozens of families welcome home Mad Foxes of Patrol Squadron 5
Dozens of family members were at the base to welcome the Mad Foxes of Patrol Squadron 5 when they returned home after a six-month deployment, mainly in Okinawa, Japan. PHOTOS: Mad Foxes of Patrol Squadron 5 return from deploymentThe homecoming was also extra special for another family. The Mad Foxes had a successful deployment. During their Guam mission, the Mad Foxes helped find a family of four adults and three children missing at sea for nearly a week. Crews spent three days searching thousands of miles before the Mad Foxes found the family of seven in good health near Micronesia.

NAS Jacksonville expected to reopen Thursday after damage assessment
NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. - NAS Jacksonville will recall some essential personnel at noon Thursday to begin to reopen base facilities. All normal operations at NAS Jacksonville will resume by noon Friday. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Naval Base Mayport was still doing preliminary inspections, looking for possible damage and working to restore normal operations. NAS Jax closedBecause of deteriorating weather forecast relating to Hurricane Dorian, the Naval Air Station Jacksonville Commanding Officer ordered the closure of NAS Jacksonville to non-essential personnel beginning at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2. Aircraft evacuatedIn preparation for Hurricane Dorian, aircraft at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport have been ordered to evacuate.

Young Marines make meals for volunteer searchers
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Even children have assisted in the search for two firefighters lost at sea. The Young Marines met Tuesday evening at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and made food for volunteers searching for the missing boaters. Each bag has a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a bologna sandwich or a ham and cheese sandwich. There are also snacks such as chips and cookies in the bags. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

VIDEO: Large alligator climbs fence at Naval Air Station Jacksonville
A gator was caught on camera scaling a fence at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. You can see the huge reptile climbing the fence, before falling onto the other side and continuing his stroll. The gator made a much more graceful landing than many of us would have. This video has been viewed more than 25,000 on our Instagram account. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

NAS Jacksonville training exercise will increase noise in area
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - If you notice some extra activity around Naval Air Station Jacksonville over the next two weeks, don't be alarmed. The Navy said the training operation is in support of aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and embarked Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8 staff, which is departing Naval Station Norfolk to begin a major training exercise. The training, called Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), is designed to integrate all the assets of the strike group, test their ability to carry out maritime operations, and assess deployability. The strike group is evaluated on their performance during simulated surface and sub-surface threats and ship movements they may encounter during a strait transit or in the vicinity of hostile waters. USS Harry S. Truman is the eighth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, named after the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman.

Passenger sues Miami Air over injuries from 737 crash
It appears to be the first lawsuit filed from the May 3 crash. Miami Air Flight 293 took off from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with mechanical problems and a forecast of bad weather in Jacksonville. WATCH: Lawsuit filed against Miami AirBauer filed the suit on behalf of Gary Moss, a government contractor in his 50s from south Florida. The lawsuit is seeking at least $156,000 in damages; possibly much more if Miami Air cant prove its not at fault. News4Jax contacted Miami Air executives by phone and email for comment, but have not received a response.

Passengers on plane that hit St. Johns won't get luggage for 7 more weeks
Miami Air International posted Tuesday that all the baggage from the ill-fated flight has been transferred to BMS CAT's industrial processing center. Miami Air has contracted with the incident recovery operations company to inventory and clean the baggage before it can be returned to the passengers. The landing gear separated from the plane during landing and the plane stopped in less than 5 feet of water. The NTSB report notes that thunderstorms with frequent lightning were in the area. LINK: Report from National Transportation Safety BoardAt the time of the crash, the plane had logged 38,928 total flight hours, with 15,610 total flight cycles, according to the report.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/H5SM25SYQFBWBNS555SN45PRI4.jpg)
Navy vs. ND at EverBank in 2016
This will be the third time that Navy has played a game in Jacksonville. It will also mark the second Navy-Notre Dame game to be played in Florida as the two teams met in Orlando in 2000. Navy and Notre Dame have the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in college football and teams will meet for the 89th time on Saturday, Oct. 10 in South Bend. The Mids are 3-5 against Notre Dame dating back to the 2007 season. JAXSPORTS is currently accepting requests for tickets to the 2016 Navy-Notre Dame Game, which will be available on a priority system.