"Because of a bird": F-16 crashes near homes in Michigan
A Texas Air National Guard F-16 fighter jet crashed yesterday (Thursday) during a training flight in Michigan. The pilot ejected and is in stable condition. Residents were evacuated due to a chemical leak. Radio communications reported a suspected bird strike. The US military is investigating.
A Texas Air National Guard F-16 fighter jet crashed yesterday (Thursday) at approximately 2:00 PM local time in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, during a training flight at Alpena Base. The pilot, the only person on board, ejected before the crash and is being treated in stable condition at a local hospital. No one else was injured. Residents in the area reported a fireball in the field and sounds of explosions heard from a distance. Following the crash, all residents within a radius of about 1.6 km were evacuated due to a hazardous chemical leak related to the crash. Radio communications reported a suspected bird strike causing engine loss. All Texas Air National Guard aircraft in Michigan were grounded. The US military is investigating the circumstances. CNN noted that thousands of aircraft are struck by birds in the US each year, and Traverse City alone reported 41 strikes in 2025.