A Texas Air National Guard F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight in northern Michigan on September 17, 2026. The pilot ejected safely prior to the crash and was subsequently taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.
The aircraft was assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, based at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, and was participating in training at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. The incident occurred near Blair Township in Grand Traverse County, with no injuries reported on the ground.
Local emergency officials issued an evacuation order for residents within a one-mile radius of the crash site. The 149th Fighter Wing confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
