Fighter jet crashes in rural Michigan, neighborhood evacuated

Michigan state police reported no fatalities after an F-16 military fighter jet crashed on Thursday afternoon near residential homes in northwestern Michigan. Footage of the crash site posted by a bystander appeared to show a pillar of black smoke rising from a large fire near a camper, with residential homes visible in the background.

Grand Traverse County Emergency Management initially issued a shelter-in-place order to all residents and instructed all windows and vents to be shut. Police later ordered all businesses and homes within a one-mile radius of the crash site to evacuate due to a hazardous chemical spill caused by the crash.

How many people were in the jet? Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea identified the jet’s pilot as the only person on board at the time of the crash. The pilot was transferred to Munson Medical Center, where he is conscious and speaking with police, Shea said during a brief Thursday press conference.

WORLD reached out to Blair Township Supervisor Nicole Blonshine for more crash details. This story will be updated with any response received.