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A US Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed in northern Michigan on Thursday afternoon during a routine training exercise, prompting evacuations in the surrounding area as emergency teams responded to the incident.
The aircraft belonged to the Texas Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing and had been conducting a training mission from a National Guard base in Alpena, Michigan, according to the Texas Military Department. The crash occurred in Grand Traverse County, south of Traverse City.
Officials confirmed that the pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft before the crash. Michigan State Police later reported that the pilot was in stable condition at a local hospital and that no other people were injured.
Audio recorded by LiveATC.net indicated that a fellow military pilot alerted air traffic controllers after what appeared to be an emergency. The pilot reported a possible mayday and suggested that the aircraft may have struck a bird.
The exact cause of the crash has not yet been established, with military authorities saying an investigation is underway. Air traffic control communications also indicated that the aircraft may have experienced an engine failure before the pilot ejected.
Witnesses in the rural community described seeing a large fireball followed by a heavy column of black smoke. A police officer reportedly told them the sounds were associated with the fighter jet crash and ammunition.
The incident also prompted concerns over hazardous materials. Michigan State Police said homes and businesses within a one mile radius were evacuated because of a hazardous chemical spill linked to the aircraft. Most residents were permitted to return to their homes by 10 p.m. Thursday.
The possibility of a bird strike has drawn attention because such incidents are relatively common in aviation. The Federal Aviation Administration records thousands of wildlife strikes involving aircraft in the United States each year. In 2025, 41 bird or wildlife strikes were reported in the Traverse City area.
Military investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, communications and circumstances surrounding the crash as they work to determine what caused the F-16 to go down.
