F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes in Northern Michigan Residential Area

F-16 jet crashes in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Pilot ejected safely, no civilian injuries reported.

September 18, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Grand Traverse County, Michigan — A U.S. Air National Guard F-16 fighter jet crashed in a residential area of northern Michigan on Thursday afternoon, with the pilot successfully ejecting before impact, officials confirmed.

The incident took place in Grand Traverse County during a standard training exercise, according to a Texas Military Department spokesperson. The aircraft, identified as an F-16 from the Texas Air National Guard, was operating out of the Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Michigan.

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The pilot is currently stable and has been taken to a local hospital. No civilian injuries have been reported, though a hazardous chemical spill prompted the temporary evacuation of all buildings within a one-mile radius of the crash site. The evacuation order was lifted by 9:44 p.m. Thursday. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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