Coronavirus NYC: Blue Angels, Thunderbirds fly over New York City, New Jersey to salute frontline workers

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- The Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, honored those on the frontline of COVID-19 with a formation flight over New York City and New Jersey Tuesday.

The salute in the skies from the Air Force and Navy honored of healthcare workers, first responders, military, and other essential personnel.

Flyovers in Newark, New York City and surrounding boroughs started at noon and lasted approximately 35 minutes.

Some spectacular images were captured on the ground.

The @BlueAngels & @AFThunderbirds fly over NYC!🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/igjDpajYav
— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) April 28, 2020

Lifting spirits and saying thank you to those health care heroes and first responders today. @BlueAngels @AFThunderbirds @ABC7NY @usairforce @USNavy #NYC #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/T1BvcCepl1
— Stacey Sager (@staceysager7) April 28, 2020

This is absolutely awesome! A (well deserved) tribute to the ALL the heroes on the front lines. Thank you @usairforce and @USNavy #Thunderbirds #blueangels pic.twitter.com/IRHPBQequH
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) April 28, 2020

OPERATION AMERICA STRONG
Flyover for Frontlinershttps://t.co/BCPQQ8CUQ8 #abc7ny pic.twitter.com/kJVWBnp1Qb
— Lee Goldberg (@LeeGoldbergABC7) April 28, 2020

.@AFThunderbirds @BlueAngels fly over #Brooklyn to honor #FrontLineHeroes #NYC @ABC7NY pic.twitter.com/PZFS9jsmnB
— Mike Marza (@mikemarzaABC7) April 28, 2020

"We are incredibly honored to have the opportunity to salute those working on the frontline of the COVID-19 response, we are in awe of your strength and resilience," said Cmdr. Brian Kesselring, U.S. Navy Blue Angels commanding officer and flight leader. "Thank you to all of those in essential industries keeping our nation moving forward. We will get through this. We are all in this together."

WATCH the complete NY/NJ flyover

The formation flights also took place over the Philadelphia area later Tuesday.

This mission, the first of several planned over the coming weeks, is the culmination of more than a month of planning and coordination between the two teams and numerous city and government offices.