Texas Air National Guard Pilot Ejects Safely Before F-16 Crash in Michigan
A routine training mission ended with a pilot ejecting from an F-16 fighter jet shortly before it crashed in Michigan.
A pilot from the Texas Air National Guard safely ejected from an F-16 fighter jet Thursday during a training mission in Michigan, officials confirmed.
The pilot, assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing based at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, was flying a routine training mission when the incident occurred approximately seven miles south of Grand Traverse, Michigan.
Following the mishap, the pilot ejected before the aircraft crashed. The pilot is reported to be in stable condition. Details regarding the specific cause of the mishap have not been released.
Video footage circulating on social media appears to show black smoke rising into the sky from the crash site. The Grand Traverse Emergency Management Agency issued an evacuation order for an area within a mile of the crash site, advising residents to follow instructions from emergency personnel.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., acknowledged the incident on social media, stating he was monitoring the situation and praying for the safety of the pilot and any individuals on the ground. An F-16 fighter jet is seen over San Diego.
No further information about the crash or the pilot has been disclosed by officials.