US F-16 fighter jet crashes during training in Michigan, pilot ejects safely

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Texas Air National Guard crashed in rural northern Michigan during a training mission on Thursday. The pilot ejected safely prior to impact and was taken to a regional hospital for medical evaluation.

What caused the F-16 crash and evacuation in Grand Traverse County?

The multirole fighter, attached to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s 149th Fighter Wing, was operating out of the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center when it went down near Blair Township in Grand Traverse County. According to CBS News, air traffic control audio recorded a formation flight member indicating a potential bird strike immediately before the aircraft lost power.

Witnesses reported seeing the jet flying unusually low before hearing a loud detonation believed to be the ejection seat deployment, followed by a large fireball and secondary debris explosions in an open field. Grand Traverse County Emergency Management and the Michigan State Police temporarily instituted a localized one-mile evacuation order along County Road 633 due to hazardous materials, specifically toxic hydrazine utilized in the F-16's emergency power system.

What is the status of the pilot and the military investigation?

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael D. Shea confirmed that the pilot was conscious, alert, and communicating with law enforcement officers while receiving care at a local medical facility. Military spokespersons declined to release the pilot's identity or detail specific injuries, citing Air Force safety and privacy protocols.

The United States Air Force Safety Center has initiated an official inquiry to evaluate the crash site, review flight data, and establish the exact cause of the accident. The incident marks the latest Class A aviation mishap involving an F-16 Fighting Falcon following a similar non-fatal training crash in late 2025.