F16 crash in Michigan: Did a bird strike cause it? Alleged ATC audio moments before crash surfaces

An F-16 fighter jet crashed in northern Michigan on Thursday afternoon during a training exercise. The pilot safely ejected from the jet and was taken to a hospital. Officials later said the pilot was in stable condition.

An F-16 fighter jet crashed in northern Michigan on Thursday. (AFP)Where and when did the crash happen?As per WOOD, he crash happened around 2pm along a country road in Green Lake Township, a few miles east of Interlochen State Park. Grand Traverse County Emergency Management ordered everyone within one mile of the crash site to evacuate.

According to AP, the crash took place in Blair Township, Michigan, during what officials called a routine training exercise.

As per Fox16, the F-16 belonged to the 149th Fighter Wing from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. The unit said student and instructor pilots were traveling to Michigan for Operation Northern Cactus at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center.

An audio recording obtained by WOOD indicated the pilot believed the jet may have hit a bird.

“We have a possible mayday by wingman. I believe (they) may have taken a bird,” a military pilot alerted air traffic controllers, as per CNN.

“It appears that they may have lost an engine and ejected… but we do see a lot of black smoke, which we believe is the ejected F-16."

Sgt. Derek Gutierrez, a public affairs specialist with the 149th Fighter Wing, told the Associated Press that the pilot had ejected safely and was receiving medical treatment at a local hospital. He declined to release details about the pilot's identity or any injuries, citing military policy.

Master Sgt. Agustin Salazar, also a spokesperson for the 149th, told WOOD that the pilot is in stable condition. He could not immediately comment on whether anyone else was injured, and said additional information would be forthcoming.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud crash, and images posted to social media showed a dark plume of smoke in the air.

Wendy Sobeck said she and her husband heard a "very loud crash" down the road, minutes from their rural home.

"We thought there was a car accident outside our house. We saw big billowing black smoke. We couldn't tell what it was, so my husband got into his pickup truck and saw what happened," Sobeck said, per AP.

"You could see the plane debris in the field. Explosions kept happening."

Khushi Arora is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she writes for the US Desk, covering everything happening in the United States, while maintaining quality and delivering impactful stories across all beats. She previously worked at Zee News for over a year where she explored multiple beats including News Desk, Education and Lifestyle. With a background in English Literature, Khushi blends sharp research with thoughtful storytelling, shaping stories that go beyond headlines and bring clarity and credibility to every piece she writes. Beyond the newsroom, she enjoys reading, watching cinema and loves having long conversations about books, films and everything in between.Read More