Pilot ejects before F-16 fighter jet crashed in Michigan

An F-16 fighter jet crashed during training exercises in Michigan on Thursday, with the pilot successfully ejecting from the aircraft. Emergency personnel arrived at the scene, where plumes of smoke rose into the sky and hazardous chemicals spilled from the wreckage. Local residents were temporarily evacuated due to the chemical spill, though no injuries were reported among them.

Sgt. Derek Gutierrez, a public affairs specialist, stated that the pilot was receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital and was conscious and speaking with law enforcement at the time of the press briefing. The plane was participating in training exercises at a National Guard base in Alpena, approximately 190 miles north of Detroit.

Another pilot reported hearing a possible bird strike from air traffic controllers, but Sgt. Gutierrez did not confirm this information. The crash is currently under investigation. One witness, Nathan Smith, who was working at a construction site near the crash, captured video of the fighter jet flying low and slow, followed by a loud "bang" believed to be the pilot ejecting.

Another witness, Wendy Sobeck, heard a loud crash and saw black smoke billowing from a field, where debris and explosions were visible. Fred Sobeck, 65, drove down the road and saw a large fireball near a house and a camper, which were not damaged. The Michigan State Police initially directed nearby residents to shelter in place, but later evacuated those living within a mile due to the hazardous chemical spill.

The F-16 is known to use hydrazine, a toxic chemical, as a component of emergency power unit fuel. Since 2000, there have been at least 14 Class A mishaps involving F-16s, which typically involve damage exceeding $2 million, aircraft destruction, or service member fatalities. In December, an F-16C Fighting Falcon from the Air Force's Thunderbirds crashed in Southern California, and the pilot safely ejected.