USA · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
Texas Air National Guard F-16 Crashes During Training In Michigan, Pilot Ejects Safely
Texas Air National Guard F-16 from 149th Fighter Wing crashed in Grand Traverse County Michigan. Pilot ejected safely and is in stable condition receiving medical treatment.
19 outlets, one story, no spin found.
8 of 9 outlets skipped it: all Texas Air National Guard aircraft in Michigan were grounded.
19outlets compared
The Hill stresses audio suggests a bird strike; WV News emphasises no reported bird-strike information from its spokesperson.
F-16 crash in Michigan
An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing crashed Thursday during a training mission in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, with the pilot ejecting safely before impact.
“The crash, which occurred in Grand Traverse County, was captured in a video circulated by local news outlets”
The Texas Military Department said the jet was on a routine training mission from the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena when it “experienced an incident,” and Michigan State Police ordered people within a mile of the crash site to evacuate due to a hazardous chemical spill related to the plane crash.
The crash occurred shortly before 2 p.m. ET in Green Lake Township, according to Grand Traverse Sheriff Michael Shea, and a large black plume of smoke rose near residential homes.
Sgt. Derek Gutierrez, a public affairs specialist with the 149th Fighter Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, said the pilot was receiving medical treatment at a local hospital, and he declined to release details about the pilot’s identity or any injuries citing military policy.
Mayday call and bird
Air traffic control audio and a pilot’s radio report suggested a possible bird strike shortly before the F-16 went down, but military officials had not confirmed the aircraft struck a bird.
In the recording, a pilot reported, “We have a possible Mayday. My wingman I believe may have taken a bird,” and the controller offered to direct him to a nearby airport in Frankfort or Traverse City.
The 149th Fighter Wing said the incident is under investigation and did not release additional details on the cause of the crash, while Michigan Sen. Gary Peters said on X that he was “closely monitoring the situation as we work to get more information on the incident.”
Grand Traverse County Emergency Management also posted that an evacuation order was in place “due to a plane crash,” and the Texas Military Department said emergency responders were on-site and the incident was under investigation.
Evacuations and next steps
Emergency management initially directed residents to shelter in place and close their windows and vents, then expanded to an evacuation order within 1 mile of the crash site along County Road 633 from Jefferson Place to Blair Townhall Road.
“Shelter is available at Kensington Church (6880 Secor Road in Traverse City, Michigan).”
CBS News reported that shelter was available at Kensington Church (6880 Secor Road in Traverse City, Michigan), with Kensington Church and the American Red Cross assisting impacted residents, while traffic in the area was shut down.
The crash is under investigation, and the Texas Military Department said the pilot successfully ejected and was receiving care at a nearby hospital, with no other injuries reported according to Michigan State Police.
Witness accounts described hearing a “very loud crash” and seeing billowing black smoke, and one officer told onlookers the plane contained munitions that would explode as responders established the safety perimeter.