Texas Air National Guard F-16 crashes in Michigan

A Texas Air National Guard F-16 fighter jet crashed Thursday afternoon in northern Michigan after the pilot ejected safely during a routine training mission, prompting evacuations within a mile of the crash site because of a hazardous chemical spill, officials said.

The pilot was in stable condition and was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment, according to the Texas Military Department and Michigan State Police. No other injuries were reported.

The aircraft, an F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas Air National Guard, had been flying from the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Michigan, when it “experienced an incident earlier this afternoon,” the Texas Military Department said in a statement.

The jet went down in Grand Traverse County near County Road 633 and Blair Townhall Road, county officials said. Traffic in the area was shut down as emergency crews responded, and officials urged people to stay away from the scene.

Grand Traverse County Emergency Management first issued a shelter-in-place order for County Road 633 from Jefferson Place to Blair Townhall Road, telling residents to stay indoors, close windows and vents, and follow directions from emergency personnel. Officials later ordered evacuations for all residential and business properties within a 1-mile radius of the site, instructing people to move away from the area near County Road 633 and Jefferson Place.

A shelter was opened at Kensington Church, 6880 Secor Road in Traverse City, with help from the American Red Cross.

Michigan State Police said the evacuation was tied to a hazardous chemical spill related to the crash, NBC News reported.

Blair Township Supervisor Nicole Blonshine said the crash happened in a residential area but that she did not believe anyone on the ground was hurt or that any homes were damaged. She said she did not see the crash, but heard it from her office.

Witnesses described a loud explosion and smoke after the aircraft went down. Nicole Conrad told NBC News her children noticed the military jet first.

“I hear a big boom, and then I see a colorful parachute and this guy floating down from the sky,” she said.

Another witness, Ed Wilson, told NBC News he saw the plane descending, followed by an explosion and black smoke.

“The jet just went straight in with a nose up and disappeared,” Wilson said.

Social media video verified by NBC News appeared to show a column of black smoke rising near a home in the area of the reported crash.

Air traffic control audio obtained by NBC News described the declaration of a possible mayday after the plane “may have taken a bird.” The audio then referred to “a lot of black smoke” and said “it appears that they may have lost an engine and ejected.”

The cause of the crash has not been determined. The Texas Military Department said the incident remains under investigation.

The Air Force describes the F-16 Fighting Falcon as a “compact, multi-role fighter aircraft” that is “highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack,” according to NBC News.