The jet was part of a routine training exercise flown by the National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing from Joint Base San Antonio‑Lackland, heading to Alpena National Guard Base, about 190 miles north of Detroit.
The pilot, who remained conscious and spoken to Sheriff Michael D. Shea at a local hospital, was treated for minor injuries before being released, while the military has not yet disclosed his name, citing policy.
A second pilot transmitted a Mayday call to air‑traffic controllers, alleging his wingman had struck a bird, a claim that prompted an investigation by the Air Force Safety Center. The audio, posted on liveatc.net, indicates the pilot believed a bird collision caused the crash.
Michigan State Police evacuated residents within one mile of the wreckage after reports of explosions and a toxic hydrazine spill, the fuel used in F‑16 emergency power units, prompting shelter‑in‑place orders that were later lifted.
The crash has been classified as a Class A mishap, the Air Force’s designation for incidents involving damage over $2 million or loss of aircraft, and investigators will examine maintenance logs and flight data to determine if a bird strike was indeed the cause.