An F-16 jet crashed in Northern Michigan on Thursday. The F-16 was from Texas and its pilot ejected prior to the crash, the Air National Guard confirmed. The crash was in Blair Township, which is southwest of Traverse City in Grand Traverse County. The area is now under a shelter in place order. According to the Texas Air National Guard, the F-16 is theirs and was part of a joint training mission. The pilot ejected before the crash and is in stable condition, the guard said. LiveNOW’s Anna Marsick spoke with David Berke, a former F-16 pilot, about what pilots face during an in-flight emergency, the ejection process and what investigators will be looking for as they determine what happened.
A Texas Air National Guard pilot safely ejected from an F-16 before it crashed in Michigan, prompting local evacuations.
PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: A Texas Air National Guard pilot ejected safely from an F-16 fighter jet that crashed during a training mission in Michigan, following an unspecified mishap. The incident occurred seven miles south of Grand Traverse, Michigan, and led to local evacuations. IMPACT: The crash prompted the Grand Traverse Emergency Management Agency to order evacuations within a mile of the crash site, emphasizing the potential danger to local residents. The pilot is reported to be in stable condition, alleviating immediate concerns for his safety. DETAIL: The pilot, part of the 149th Fighter Wing based at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, was on a routine training mission when the incident occurred. Video footage…Open
