{
  "id": 8145566,
  "title": "Military: An F-16 Crashes during Training in Michigan; Pilot Ejects Safely",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/military-an-f-16-crashes-during-training-in-michigan-pilot-ejects",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T01:45:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
    "slug": "the-japan-news-by-the-yomiuri-shimbun",
    "url": "https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/news-services/ap/20260918-349228/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "DETROIT (AP) — An F-16 pilot safely ejected before the fighter jet crashed Thursday in rural Michigan, sending plumes of smoke into the sky and triggering temporary evacuations for nearby residents after police said hazardous chemicals spilled from the wreckage.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/8145566.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "F-16 fighter jet crashes during training in Michigan; pilot ejects safely",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/f-16-fighter-jet-crashes-during-training-in-michigan-pilot-ejects",
        "published": "2026-09-17T20:38:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "F-16 crashes on training run in Michigan; pilot safely ejects",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/f-16-crashes-on-training-run-in-michigan-pilot-safely-ejects",
        "published": "2026-09-17T21:49:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "US F-16 warplane crashes in Michigan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/us-f-16-warplane-crashes-in-michigan",
        "published": "2026-09-17T22:21:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "US F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes In Michigan, Pilot Ejects",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/us-f-16-fighter-jet-crashes-in-michigan-pilot-ejects",
        "published": "2026-09-17T22:41:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Texas National Guard F-16 crashes in Michigan during training exercise, pilot in stable condition",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/texas-national-guard-f-16-crashes-in-michigan-during-training",
        "published": "2026-09-17T22:44:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Texas Air National Guard F-16 crashes in Michigan, sparking evacuation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/texas-air-national-guard-f-16-crashes-in-michigan-sparking-evacuation",
        "published": "2026-09-17T22:58:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Pilot ejects before F-16 fighter jet crashed in Michigan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/pilot-ejects-before-f-16-fighter-jet-crashed-in-michigan",
        "published": "2026-09-17T23:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "US F-16 warplane crashes in Michigan, pilot ejects",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/us-f-16-warplane-crashes-in-michigan-pilot-ejects",
        "published": "2026-09-17T23:22:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "US F-16 warplane crashes in Michigan, pilot ejects",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/us-f-16-warplane-crashes-in-michigan-pilot-ejects",
        "published": "2026-09-18T00:43:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}