Singer Hunter Hayes Witnesses Blue Angels' Fatal Crash

Singer had been scheduled to fly with the squadron the same day.

ByABC News
June 3, 2016, 11:17 AM
Hunter Hayes attends T.J. Martell Foundation's 16th Annual New York Family Day, Dec.13, 2015, in New York.
Hunter Hayes attends T.J. Martell Foundation's 16th Annual New York Family Day, Dec.13, 2015, in New York.
Robin Marchant/Getty Images

— -- Singer Hunter Hayes was among the people watching the Blue Angels practice over Smyrna, Tennessee, Thursday afternoon, when one of the jets crashed, killing a pilot.

When the plane went down around 3 p.m., the "Wanted" hitmaker was standing by to go up with a member of the noted flight demonstration squadron just 90 minutes later.

Hayes' publicist Ebie McFarland told ABC News that "it happened right in front of them."

On both Wednesday and Thursday, the respected pilots took time each day to fly with local celebrities to generate publicity for the weekend air show on the outskirts of Nashville.

"The tragedy today with the Blue Angels is so devastating," Hayes tweeted later in the evening. "My heart and prayers are with the pilot's family and the entire Blue Angels team."

Both Hayes' flight and the Blue Angels' weekend demonstration were ultimately cancelled in the aftermath.