F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes in Michigan, Pilot Ejected
An F-16 fighter jet from the 149th Fighter Wing crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, on Thursday afternoon. The pilot ejected and is in stable condition at a nearby hospital.
- 2 F-16s were flying a low-level training route at the time of the crash.
- County Road 633 is closed from Jefferson Place to Blair Townhall Road.
- Grand Traverse County Emergency Management ordered residents to shelter indoors and close windows.
- Officials reported no injuries on the ground and no homes damaged.
Why it matters: A military aircraft crash during a training exercise triggers automatic hazmat precautions, prompting the shelter-in-place order. Fuel and debris from the wreckage present potential risks to nearby residents.
- Even a successful ejection can cause serious physical injuries to a pilot.
How 17 sources split on this story
Where they split: Whether a bird strike caused the crash: air traffic control audio cited by some outlets suggests it, but no official confirmation has been issued.
Associated Press2hMichigan authorities advise shelter in place after small plane crash in Grand Traverse County
Stars and Stripes2hPilot safely ejects from crash of Texas Air National Guard F-16 in northern Michigan
USA Today1hF-16 fighter jet crashes in Michigan, leaves black plumeWPWPXI Pittsburgh2hMilitary: An F-16 crashes during training in Michigan; pilot ejects safelyLeft coverage, 3 sources: The left focuses on the public safety response — the shelter-in-place order, road closures, and the pilot's stable condition — framing coverage around official guidance and community impact.
Right coverage, 9 sources: The right leads with the dramatic visuals of the fiery wreckage and the pilot's narrow escape, highlighting the ejection and early social media reports while noting the bird strike theory from ATC audio.
New York Post2hF-16 fighter jet crashes in Michigan as pilot ejects and is rushed to hospital
RedState6hBreaking: Fiery F-16 Crash Over Michigan Sends Pilot Scrambling to Eject in Time
Citizen Free Press2hBreaking | F-16 crashes in Michigan, video from scene.
Fox News1hTexas Air National Guard pilot ejects safely before F-16 crash in Michigan
Just the News21hF-16 fighter jet crashes in rural Michigan; pilot ejects and is taken to hospital
The National Pulse42mF-16 Crashes Near Michigan Neighborhood, Evacuation Orders Issued.
The Washington Times37mMilitary: An F-16 crashes during training in Michigan; pilot ejects safely
Washington Examiner28mF-16 military aircraft from Texas crashes in northern Michigan
ZeroHedge2h"Stay Away From The Area": F-16 Fighter Jet Reportedly Crashes In MichiganWhat’s next: The 149th Fighter Wing says it is actively investigating the cause of the crash.
- Authorities asked the public to stay away from the County Road 633 and Blair Townhall Road area.
- What caused the crash — a bird strike has been suggested by ATC audio but not confirmed by officials.
- Whether the pilot's injuries, if any, are serious.
- What environmental or safety risks the debris field and fire pose to the surrounding area.