An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Texas Air National Guard crashed Thursday afternoon in northern Michigan, but the pilot managed to eject from the aircraft and is safe, according to the unit and emergency officials cited in published reports.
The jet went down alongside County Road 633 in Grand Traverse County, an area near Traverse City. The pilot ejected and has been receiving medical attention, according to Breitbart News. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and no other injuries have been reported.
A Routine Training Flight
In a statement provided to media outlets, a spokesperson for the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas Air National Guard said the aircraft was taking part in an ordinary training flight when the incident occurred.
“A 149th Fighter Wing, Texas Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon was on a routine training mission from the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center, in Alpena, when it experienced an incident earlier this afternoon,” the statement said.
The Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, roughly 120 miles northeast of the crash site, is a facility used for military flight training in the region. The wing is headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, but its aircraft and personnel regularly travel to Michigan for readiness exercises.
Orders Shift From Shelter-in-Place to Evacuation
The emergency response unfolded in stages, according to CBS News. Officials first issued a shelter-in-place order covering County Road 633 from Jefferson Place to Blair Townhall Road, instructing residents in the immediate area to remain indoors, close their windows and vents, and follow directions from emergency personnel.
That guidance was later escalated to an evacuation order for everyone within one mile of the crash site. Residents in that zone are being urged to leave the area around the intersection of County Road 633 and Jefferson Place. As of Thursday evening, an evacuation order remained in effect within the one-mile radius, according to CBS News.
Emergency management said Kensington Church at 6880 Secor Road in Traverse City is serving as a shelter for displaced residents. The church and the American Red Cross are assisting those impacted by the crash, according to officials.
What Happens Next
Investigators have not yet identified what brought the jet down. Military accident investigations typically involve a review of flight data, maintenance records, and witness accounts, a process that can take weeks or months to produce a public conclusion.
The 149th Fighter Wing flies the F-16, a single-engine multirole fighter that has been a mainstay of the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard fleet for decades. The aircraft is used for air-to-air combat and air-to-ground missions, as well as for training pilots in high-performance flight maneuvers.
Grand Traverse County is a largely rural area of northern Michigan, and County Road 633 is a local two-lane route. Emergency officials have not indicated whether the crash caused any property damage beyond the aircraft itself.
The condition of the pilot has not been released beyond the statement that he or she is receiving medical care. The Guard did not immediately provide additional details about the pilot’s identity or the specific nature of the mission.
Thursday’s incident adds to a series of military aviation mishaps involving F-16s in recent years, though each crash is investigated independently. For now, residents near the crash site are being asked to stay away while recovery and investigative work continues.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/17/pilot-ejects-safely-as-f-16-fighter-jet-crashes-in-michigan/