Texas Air National Guard F-16 crashes in Michigan

A Texas Air National Guard F-16 fighter jet crashed in a residential area of Grand Traverse County, Michigan, during a training mission on September 17, 2026. The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft before the crash and is reported to be safe.

Local authorities have established a 1.5-kilometer exclusion zone around the crash site and ordered an immediate evacuation of the area due to concerns regarding a chemical leak. Television footage shows a plume of thick black smoke rising from the scene, with burning debris scattered across the ground. The aircraft was part of the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas Air National Guard. Investigations into the cause of the training accident are ongoing as officials secure the perimeter to manage potential hazardous material contamination.