Military jets fly over Riverside County in salute of medical workers

Military jets flew over hospitals in Riverside and San Bernardino Counies Thursday afternoon to honor essential workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. A KC-135 Stratotanker and C-17 Globemaster III departed from the March Air Reserve Base in Moreno Valley. The flyover covered a total of 17 hospitals, including JFK Memorial and Desert Regional Medical Center.

"It's unity-- people showing appreciation to what we do," JFK Memorial Hosptial respiratory therapist, Danny Cardoza said.

"We at Desert Regional Medical Center are honored to see them fly over," Desert Regional Medical Center Executive Director of Comprehensive Cancer Center, Teresa Whipple said.

The first plane to fly over, the KC-135 Stratotanker, is a refueling aircraft. The second, the C-17 Globemaster III, is a cargo plane.

Dozens of healthcare workers and first responders gathered outside of both hospitals to see the spectacle.

"I think it’s morale boosting," Desert Regional Medical Center Biomedical Engineering Department Manager, Gerald Fuller said. "I think it’s wonderful that the men and women who serve the country in the military are taking the time out to show support for the medical staff here."

Fuller is a Navy veteran. He said it has been a while since he has seen a military aircraft.

Several military flyovers have taken off in recent weeks in honor of essential workers. One that's familiar to the Coachella Valley, is Friday Flyovers, where historic aircrafts take off from Palm Springs Air Museum.

Under Federal Aviation Administration regulations, the heavy jets had to stay a minimum of 1,000 feet above populated areas, but they generally fly higher than that for safety, according to military officials.