F-16 fighter jet crashes during Michigan training drill, pilot ejects safely
A U.S. Air Force F-16 crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, during a National Guard training exercise; the pilot ejected and was hospitalized in stable condition while nearby residents were evacuated.
A U.S. military F-16 fighter jet went down in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, on Thursday afternoon while taking part in a National Guard training exercise, Michigan State Police said. The aircraft’s sole occupant ejected before impact and was taken to a local hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
Air traffic controllers heard a possible mayday call from a wingman who reported the aircraft may have struck a bird, and later described a fireball and a large plume of black smoke over a field near homes south of Traverse City. State police evacuated residents within a one-mile radius because of a hazardous chemical spill linked to the crash.
Local witnesses reported hearing explosions and seeing the fireball, and a police officer confirmed the incident involved a fighter jet and its ammunition. The crash is being investigated by the military; civilian aviation accidents are typically examined by the National Transportation Safety Board. While the exact cause is still unknown, bird strikes are a common hazard for aircraft, with the Federal Aviation Administration recording thousands of such incidents annually.