Blue Angels take Owensboro Firefighter and Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson East for ride

OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) –One of the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels flew into Owensboro Wednesday morning ahead of this weekend’s air show. They honored some people for their impact on the community. One of them is a firefighter who donated his kidney to save the life of his sister-in-law.

The Blue Angel #7 landed to pick up a few unlikely guests including Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson East and a hometown hero known to some as Captain America.

Tyler Grant, an Owensboro Firefighter, dedicated to keeping his community and family safe.

The emergency responder traveled over 600 miles and reached speeds up to 7 times the force of gravity as he was recognized by the Blue Angels for the way he’s shaping and inspiring the local youth.

On the ground amongst his supporters is his sister-in-law Jessy Bennett, who’s life he saved after almost a decade of navigating kidney failure.

“I’ve said for the longest time that Tyler’s like Captain America. He just always does the right thing. In fact, we even named the kidney Steve…after Steve Rogers in honor of Tyler,” says Bennett.

During his 45-minute ride Grant did barrel rolls and flips, as his pilot stayed alert to check for any signs of Grant passing out…a common effect of flying at such a high speed. Instead, the hometown hero soared into laughter.

“Every time it would start to tunnel in…They’re like ‘okay really work on your breathing or whatever’. I would just start laughing. He was like ‘I don’t think anyone’s ever laughed that hard. While pulling G’s’,” says Grant.

4-time Olympic Gymnastics medalist Shawn Johnson East took a ride after Grant.

At just 16 years old, the olympian won gold in 2008 for the balance beam. 16 years later, she finds herself a little nervous about what she’s describing as a pinch me moment.

“The adrenaline junkie in me loves this. I’ve jumped out of planes. I’ve done like the Indycar ride alongs…I love it. I just don’t wanna puke. I feel like the only thing I keep finding are videos of people passing out and throwing up, and I’m like ‘great. It’s just my goal not to do either’,” says Johnson-East.

Johnson-East shared on social media that she made it through the flight just fine. She says she and her husband have plans to return this weekend with her children for the Blue Angel’s full show and a taste of Owensboro’s Bar-B-Que.

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