An F-16 fighter jet belonging to the Texas Air National Guard crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, on Thursday afternoon. The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft before impact and was reported to be in stable condition while receiving medical treatment. Local authorities initially issued a shelter-in-place order for the surrounding area, which was later upgraded to an evacuation for residents within one mile of the crash site.
The aircraft was part of the 149th Fighter Wing and was conducting a routine training mission at the time of the incident. It had departed from the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center located in Alpena, Michigan. The Texas Military Department confirmed the details of the flight mission but did not provide immediate information regarding the cause of the crash.
The crash occurred near the intersection of County Road 633 and Blair Townhall Road. Michigan State Police and the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and closed down local traffic. Blair Township Supervisor Nicole Blonshine stated that there were no reports of injuries to individuals on the ground and no initial evidence of damage to residential homes in the vicinity.
The crash involves an aircraft from the Texas Air National Guard. Such incidents typically trigger investigations by military aviation safety boards to determine if the crash was caused by mechanical failure, pilot error, or environmental factors.
What happens next: Emergency responders remain on-site to secure the wreckage and ensure the safety of the perimeter. Traffic along County Road 633 remains shut down, and the public has been instructed to avoid the area. The 149th Fighter Wing and local law enforcement have not yet announced a timeline for when the evacuation order will be lifted or when the wreckage will be removed.