An F-16 fighter jet crashed in a field near Alpena, Michigan during training exercises on Thursday, injuring the pilot but causing no deaths. The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft before impact and was reported conscious and receiving medical treatment at a local hospital. The crash sparked an evacuation of residents within a one-mile radius due to a hazardous chemical spill from the aircraft, highlighting the risks associated with military training operations in populated areas.

The F-16 aircraft, based at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, came down approximately 190 miles north-west of Detroit. Another pilot reported to air traffic control that his wingman may have struck a bird before crashing, though military officials stated they had not been informed of a confirmed bird strike and the incident remains under investigation. The crash site produced significant explosions as ammunition ignited; F-16 jets use hydrazine, a toxic chemical, in their emergency power systems, which prompted the evacuation order. The evacuation was lifted just before 10pm, with police securing the area and investigations ongoing into the cause of the crash.