US Air Force F-16 crashes in Michigan training drill, pilot ejects safely

A US Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed in rural Michigan during a training exercise on Thursday, with the pilot safely ejecting before the aircraft went down and a hazardous chemical spill prompting the temporary evacuation of nearby residents, the Associated Press reported.

Sgt. Derek Gutierrez, a public affairs specialist with the 149th Fighter Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, said the pilot was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He declined to provide details about the pilot's identity or injuries, citing military policy.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael D. Shea said the pilot was conscious and speaking to law enforcement at the hospital, according to the AP.An F-16 fighter jet crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, on Thursday, and an evacuation order is in effect along part of County Road 633, the county's emergency management said.A spokesperson with the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas National Guard confirmed that the pic.twitter.com/ryAwGPb5DA— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 17, 2026

The F-16 was taking part in training exercises at a National Guard base in Alpena, around 190 miles (305 km) north of Detroit.

According to audio posted by LiveATC.net, another pilot told air traffic controllers that he believed his wingman had hit a bird before crashing.

"We have a possible Mayday. My wingman I believe may have taken a bird," the pilot told the controller.

The controller offered to direct the pilot to an airport in Frankfort or Traverse City, but he responded that his wingman had already crashed.

Gutierrez said he was not aware of a possible bird strike and that the cause of the crash remained under investigation.WITNESSES DESCRIBE LOUD CRASH, FIREBALL

Witnesses near the crash site described seeing thick black smoke, debris and explosions after the aircraft went down.

Nathan Smith, who was working at a construction site about a mile from the crash, told the AP that he had begun recording the fighter jet because it appeared to be flying unusually low and slow.

He said he later heard a loud bang, which he believed was the sound of the pilot ejecting.

Wendy Sobeck said she and her husband heard a very loud crash and later saw large plumes of black smoke. Her husband, Fred Sobeck, said he saw a large fireball in a field near a house and camper that were not hit.HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SPILL PROMPTS EVACUATION

Emergency officials initially instructed nearby residents to shelter in place. Michigan State Police later ordered an evacuation within a one-mile radius after a hazardous chemical spill was reported in connection with the crash.

Authorities did not identify the chemical involved. The AP noted that F-16 aircraft use hydrazine, a toxic chemical, as part of their emergency power systems.

The crashed jet was one of several F-16s from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland participating in the Michigan training exercises, Gutierrez said.

The US military began flying F-16s in 1979. According to the Air Force Safety Center, there have been at least 14 Class A mishaps involving F-16s since 2000. Such mishaps generally involve an aircraft being destroyed, a service member being killed or damage exceeding $2 million.

The crash comes months after an F-16C Fighting Falcon operated by the Air Force's Thunderbirds demonstration squadron crashed in the Southern California desert in December. The pilot in that incident also ejected safely, the AP reported.- EndsPublished By: Zafar ZaidiPublished On: Sep 18, 2026 06:05 IST