F-16 fighter jet crashes in residential area in northern Michigan

Key Points:

• A U.S. F-16 fighter jet from the Texas Air National Guard crashed in Grand Traverse County, northern Michigan, after experiencing an incident during a routine training mission; the pilot safely ejected and is in stable condition at a local hospital.
• The training mission originated from the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Michigan, and there were no reported civilian injuries despite the crash occurring in a residential area.
• Witnesses described hearing a loud boom, seeing the pilot parachute to safety, and observing the jet crash with an explosion and black smoke; social media videos confirmed the presence of smoke near homes.
• A hazardous chemical spill caused the evacuation of all properties within a 1-mile radius, but the evacuation order was lifted by 9:44 p.m.
• The incident is under investigation by the Texas Military Department, with air traffic control audio indicating the jet may have struck a bird, lost an engine, and declared a possible mayday before the pilot ejected.