Home / Disasters and Accidents / Pilot Ejects Safely After F-16 Goes Down in Michigan
Pilot Ejects Safely After F-16 Goes Down in Michigan
17 Sep
Summary
- An F-16 fighter jet crashed in northern Michigan during a training exercise.
- The pilot ejected safely and was reported in stable condition at a hospital.
- A possible bird strike is suspected as the cause of the crash.
An F-16 fighter jet crashed in northern Michigan on Thursday afternoon while participating in a training exercise. The pilot ejected safely from the aircraft and was taken to a local hospital, with officials later confirming the pilot was in stable condition. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. in Green Lake Township, near Interlochen State Park. Authorities ordered an evacuation within a one-mile radius of the crash site. The F-16 was part of the 149th Fighter Wing from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and was in Michigan for Operation Northern Cactus. Audio recordings suggest the pilot suspected a bird strike may have caused the jet to lose an engine, leading to the ejection. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud crash and seeing a plume of black smoke, with some describing falling debris and explosions.
