An F-16 fighter jet crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, with the pilot ejecting before being taken to hospital in a stable condition. No other injuries were reported, officials said.
The aircraft came down near County Road 633 and Blair Townhall Road on Thursday, prompting an evacuation order within about a mile of the site and the closure of nearby roads.
The pilot was on a routine training mission from the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Centre in Alpena when the aircraft experienced an incident, the Texas Military Department said. The 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas Air National Guard confirmed the pilot was receiving medical treatment.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Blair Township Supervisor Nicole Blonshine said she did not believe anyone on the ground had been hurt or that any homes had been damaged.
Residents were initially told to shelter indoors, close windows and vents, and follow instructions from emergency personnel. The evacuation covered County Road 633 from Jefferson Place to Blair Townhall Road.
A temporary shelter was made available at Kensington Church in Traverse City, with the American Red Cross and the church assisting people affected by the incident.
The order was lifted before 10pm local time, allowing most affected residents to return home. However, people living in the Glacier Pond subdivision were unable to go back, and emergency management officials said first responders had contacted them.
