USA18 September, 20263 min read
Texas Air National Guard F-16 Crashes In Michigan, Pilot Ejects; Hydrazine Spill Sends Responders To Hospital
Texas Air National Guard 149th Fighter Wing F-16 crashed in Grand Traverse County; pilot ejected. Pilot received medical treatment and is in stable condition at a local hospital.
Ejection, Hydrazine Spill
An F-16 from the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, during a routine training mission from the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, and the pilot successfully ejected before the crash. Michigan State Police directed evacuations within a one-mile radius due to a “hazardous chemical spill” related to the crash, and the evacuation order was lifted around 9:45 p.m. local time. ABC13 Houston reported that “several” first responders were among the 30 people treated for possible exposure to hazardous chemicals, and it said six people remained in Munson Medical Center overnight in stable condition.
Hydrazine was identified as the toxic fuel used in the F-16’s emergency power system, and Munson Healthcare used an outdoor treatment area to evaluate and decontaminate patients for exposure to the chemical. The incident remains under investigation, with the cause of the crash not yet determined, while air traffic control audio captured by LiveATC.net included a possible mayday involving a suspected bird strike.
Audio, Witnesses, Hospital
Air traffic control audio described a suspected bird strike, with the pilot saying, “We have a possible mayday. My wingman, I believe, may have taken a bird,” before continuing that the situation involved “the town I’m overhead now.”
The crash triggered temporary evacuations and shelter-in-place guidance, and CBC reported that emergency officials first directed nearby residents to shelter in place before Michigan State Police evacuated people within 1.6 kilometres because of a hazardous chemical spill related to the crash.
Witnesses described the moment the aircraft went down, including Nathan Smith saying it was “strange to see a jet flying that low and slow” and that he heard a loud “bang” he believed was the pilot ejecting.
Munson Medical Center said the majority of the 30 people evaluated for possible exposure were first responders and were in stable condition, while six remained hospitalized overnight.
Michigan Public reported that Munson Healthcare’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joe Santangelo said hydrazine “could irritate mucous membranes” and in serious cases can cause trouble breathing and fluid in the lungs that “can be fatal.”
What Happens Next
Authorities said the pilot was the only person onboard and was taken to a local hospital, while NBC News reported that there were no reports of civilian injuries and that a hazardous chemical spill led to evacuation of all business and residential properties within a 1-mile radius. The Texas Military Department said the incident is under investigation, and ABC13 Houston said the cause of the crash has not been determined and the military is investigating. Michigan Public reported that Munson Healthcare would work with the local public health department to understand “the long-term risks of chemicals released from the crash,” and it said anyone affected by the crash can come in to any of its centers to be examined.
Munson Healthcare’s Chief Communication Officer Megan Brown told residents that “Anybody who was within one mile of the crash that is experiencing any symptoms such as wheezing or trouble breathing” should come in and be evaluated. While some accounts referenced air traffic control audio suggesting a bird strike, the sources also said military officials had not confirmed the details and that the crash remains under investigation.