A fighter jet from the F-16 series came down in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, on Thursday, with an evacuation order now in place along a stretch of County Road 633, according to the county’s emergency management office. The pilot managed to eject, and remains in stable condition while receiving medical care.
The Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office is getting help from the Michigan State Police, and that agency has said no further injuries were reported.
The Crash Site
Officials have requested that bystanders keep their distance from the crash site, where traffic has been stopped near County Road 633 and Blair Townhall Road. Responders are en route to the location, which is now sealed off to the public.
Nicole Blonshine, the supervisor of Blair Township, has said she believes no one was injured on the ground and no homes were damaged.
The statement from Blonshine did not include any explanation for what brought about the crash, nor did it name who controlled the aircraft or confirm if there were passengers besides the pilot.
The Mission and the Incident
“A 149th Fighter Wing, Texas Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon was on a routine training mission from the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center, in Alpena, when it experienced an incident earlier this afternoon,” the Texas Military Department said in a statement.
The crash is under investigation.
Evacuation Order Expanded
Emergency management first put out a shelter-in-place order for County Road 633, running from Jefferson Place to Blair Townhall Road. Those told to remain inside were ordered to stay indoors, keep their windows and vents closed, and follow instructions from emergency personnel.
Within a distance of 1 mile from the site, an evacuation order has been put into place. People in that area are being told to leave the area immediately, moving away from the junction formed by County Road 633 and Jefferson Place.
Shelter is available at Kensington Church (6880 Secor Road in Traverse City, Michigan). Emergency management says Kensington Church and the American Red Cross are assisting impacted residents.
What We Know So Far
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | F-16 Fighting Falcon, 149th Fighter Wing, Texas Air National Guard |
| Location | Grand Traverse County, Michigan |
| Mission | Routine training mission from Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center |
| Pilot status | Ejected, in stable condition, receiving medical treatment |
| Other injuries | None reported |
| Ground damage | No homes damaged, according to Blonshine |
The Investigation
There is no confirmed reason for the crash yet. A statement from the Texas Military Department confirms the event took place, though it offers no explanation for what happened.
Authorities are requesting that members of the public keep their distance from the site so that emergency personnel can carry out their duties.
What Residents Should Do
The zone extending 1 miles from the scene demands that anyone found inside depart at once, steering clear of the point where County Road 633 meets Jefferson Place. People who need a place to stay can find shelter at Kensington Church.
According to emergency management officials, people should take direction from those on-site who are managing the response.
The Bottom Line
Residents were ordered to leave their homes and take shelter after a military aircraft carrying out a standard training mission went down in a densely populated part of the city. The reason behind the crash has yet to be determined.
While the outcome was serious, the fact remains that the pilot survived the ordeal and his condition is stable. No other injuries have been reported, which counts as a fortunate turn of events in what could easily have ended much more gravely.
The investigation continues.
See the video the story is built around at Cbsnews.
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