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F-16 Crashes In Grand Traverse County Thursday Afternoon
Russ Survance
Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:07:18 EDT
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A Texas Air National Guard pilot is recovering after ejecting from an F-16 fighter jet that crashed in Grand Traverse County Thursday afternoon.
The aircraft, assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing based at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, went down during a training mission near Blair Township, southwest of Traverse City. The pilot successfully ejected and was taken to a local hospital in stable condition. No other injuries have been reported.
Michigan State Police ordered people within about a mile of the crash site to evacuate because of hazardous materials associated with the wreckage. That evacuation order was lifted Thursday evening. F-16s carry hydrazine, a toxic chemical used by the aircraft's emergency power system.
The jet was in Michigan for Operation Northern Cactus, a training exercise based at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center.
Air traffic control recordings indicate a possible bird strike was reported shortly before the pilot ejected, but officials have not confirmed the cause. The crash remains under military investigation.
