An F-16 fighter jet from the Texas Air National Guard has crashed in rural Michigan during a routine training exercise, with the pilot safely ejecting from the aircraft.
The crash happened Thursday in Grand Traverse County, northern Michigan, while the jet was taking part in training based out of the National Guard’s facility in Alpena.
Military officials said the pilot ejected safely and was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment. Authorities have not released the pilot’s identity or details about possible injuries.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud crash before seeing a large fireball and a dark plume of smoke rising from the area. Images and videos shared online also showed smoke spreading over the rural crash site.
Local authorities ordered people within about one mile of the crash site to evacuate as emergency crews responded. Officials said hazardous material from the aircraft was also a concern at the scene.
Preliminary air-traffic-control communications indicated the aircraft may have experienced a bird strike, but officials have not confirmed the cause of the crash.
The military has launched an investigation into the incident. The Texas Air National Guard aircraft was participating in a wider training exercise designed to prepare pilots for operations in challenging environments.
