GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich. — A Texas Air National Guard F-16 fighter jet crashed in Blair Township near Traverse City on Thursday, September 17, during a routine training exercise, triggering a major emergency response and a shelter-in-place warning around the crash site.
Latest confirmed: The aircraft was an F-16 from the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing. It was taking part in a routine training exercise connected with Alpena when it crashed in Blair Township. The pilot successfully ejected and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The F-16 came down near County Road 633 and Blair Townhall Road, south of Traverse City. Images and video from the area showed a thick plume of dark smoke rising over the crash site as firefighters, police and other emergency crews moved into the area.
The Associated Press reported that Sgt. Derek Gutierrez, a public affairs specialist with the 149th Fighter Wing, confirmed the F-16 was involved in training connected with the National Guard facility in Alpena, Michigan.
Grand Traverse 911 initially reported an aircraft down in Blair Township and closed roads around the scene. Residents along County Road 633 between Jefferson Place and Blair Townhall Road were advised to remain indoors and close windows and ventilation systems while emergency crews dealt with the wreckage, fire and smoke.
BREAKING: A U.S. F-16 fighter jet crashed in Blair Township in northern Michigan. Initial reports say the pilot is conscious. pic.twitter.com/hVt8DrpRmq
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 17, 2026
Residents and motorists were urged to stay away from the crash area while emergency personnel secured the scene.
Pilot successfully ejects before F-16 crashes
Early reports from witnesses said a parachute had been spotted near the crash area. Military officials later confirmed that the pilot successfully ejected from the F-16.
The pilot was taken to a local hospital and was receiving medical treatment following the crash. Military officials have not publicly identified the pilot or disclosed the extent of any injuries, citing military policy.
Witness Wendy Sobeck told the Associated Press that she and her husband heard an extremely loud crash near their rural home before seeing heavy black smoke. Her husband then drove toward the area and saw aircraft debris scattered in a field.
Sobeck also described hearing further explosions after the crash as the wreckage burned.
No civilian casualties were reported in the initial official updates.
Local station WPBN/WGTU also reported the large emergency response and road closures in Blair Township shortly after the aircraft went down.
Why the Texas F-16 was flying over Michigan
The presence of a Texas Air National Guard fighter jet in northern Michigan was connected to a routine military training exercise, according to military officials.
The 149th Fighter Wing operates F-16 aircraft and is based at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. The unit has a major fighter-pilot training role for the Air National Guard and other U.S. military components.
The aircraft was participating in training linked to the National Guard facility in Alpena, where military aircraft regularly operate during exercises in northern Michigan.
The Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center supports large-scale military aviation training and exercises.
Officials have not disclosed what maneuver or stage of the training flight the pilot was performing immediately before the F-16 went down.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. There has been no official finding indicating whether a mechanical failure, weather, bird strike or another factor was responsible.
Investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, aircraft maintenance records, flight information and pilot communications as they work to determine what happened in the moments before the crash.
This is a developing story. This report will be updated as military officials release additional information about the pilot and the investigation.
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