GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY — Military officials declined to release details about the pilot’s identity or specific injuries, citing military policy. Sgt. Derek Gutierrez is a public affairs specialist with the 149th Fighter Wing, which is associated with the responding units. Blair Township Supervisor Nicole Blonshine stated she does not believe anyone on the ground was hurt or that any homes were damaged.

Audio captured by LiveATC.net records a military pilot alerting air traffic controllers to a possible mayday and potential bird strike. An air traffic controller relayed to other pilots that it appeared the F-16 lost an engine and ejected.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. The Texas Air National Guard stated the crash is under investigation, consistent with standard procedure where the military investigates the causes of its own crashes.

Timeline

A Texas National Guard F-16 fighter jet crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The crash occurred near the intersection of County Road 633 and Blair Townhall Road. The plane was participating in training exercises originating from a National Guard Base in Alpena, Michigan. The pilot ejected from the aircraft before the crash and is in stable condition at a local hospital.

Witness Wendy Sobeck said, "We thought there was a car accident outside our house. We saw big billowing black smoke. We couldn’t tell what it was, so my husband got into his pickup truck and saw what happened. You could see the plane debris in the field. Explosions kept happening." The aircraft was participating in a routine training exercise at the time of the crash. The evacuation order was issued due to a hazardous chemical spill related to the plane crash. An evacuation order is in effect within one mile of the crash site.

What's New

Additional details include Blair Township Supervisor Nicole Blonshine stating she does not believe anyone on the ground was hurt or that any homes were damaged. Witness Sobeck said, "We thought there was a car accident outside our house. We saw big billowing black smoke. Explosions kept happening." Grand Traverse County is county in Michigan, United States.

The incident is under investigation, and the Texas Air National Guard stated the crash is under investigation. Traffic in the area of the crash is shut down.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on specific details regarding the national guard response. In contrast, 9and10news.com reports that Michigan State Police, the Texas Air National Guard, and emergency crews responded to the crash, and that Michigan State Police stated the pilot is in stable condition at a local hospital and there are no other known injuries related to the crash.

Why It Matters

The crash prompted an evacuation order within one mile of the site due to a hazardous chemical spill, affecting local residents and traffic in Grand Traverse County. The incident involves a Texas National Guard aircraft operating out of a base in Alpena, Michigan, showing the interstate nature of the training exercises.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Texas Air National Guard, as the military investigates the causes of its own crashes. Audio recordings suggesting a mayday call and potential mechanical failure or bird strike provide initial context, but official findings are pending.