US Air Force F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes in Michigan After Suspected Bird Strike

A United States Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed during a routine military training exercise in rural Michigan on Thursday, prompting temporary evacuations after a hazardous chemical leak was reported at the crash site.

The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft before the crash and was taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael D. Shea said the pilot was conscious and communicating with emergency responders.

Suspected Bird Strike

The F-16 Fighting Falcon, operated by the 149th Fighter Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, was taking part in military exercises near a National Guard facility in Alpena, about 190 miles north of Detroit.

Air traffic control recordings indicate the aircraft may have struck a bird shortly before crashing.

“We have a possible Mayday. My wingman I believe may have taken a bird,” the accompanying pilot told air traffic controllers before the jet went down.

Sgt. Derek Gutierrez, a public affairs specialist with the 149th Fighter Wing, said the official cause of the crash remains under investigation by military authorities.

Chemical Leak Prompts Evacuation

Witnesses near the crash site reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by thick black smoke and several secondary blasts in an open field. Emergency officials initially advised residents to shelter in place before Michigan State Police ordered an evacuation within a one-mile radius.

The evacuation was issued as a precaution after hazardous chemicals were reportedly released from the wreckage. Authorities did not immediately identify the substance, although F-16s use hydrazine, a highly toxic chemical, in their emergency power units.

Grand Traverse County Emergency Management later confirmed that the evacuation order was lifted Thursday evening, allowing residents to return home.

Investigation Underway

The crash is the latest military aviation accident involving the F-16, which entered active service in 1979. US Air Force Safety Center data show at least 14 Class A mishaps involving F-16s since 2000. The classification applies to incidents involving more than $2 million in property damage, destruction of an aircraft or fatalities.

A formal military investigation board has been established to examine the wreckage and determine the exact sequence of events that led to the crash.