The accident occurred on September 17 in Grand Traverse County in northern Michigan. The F-16 Fighting Falcon belonged to the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas National Guard and was participating in training for Operation Northern Cactus, reported the New York Post. The pilot ejected before the plane fell. He was taken to the hospital. According to Sheriff Michael Shea, the pilot was conscious and speaking with law enforcement officers.  _9&10 News, Traverse City_ ### "Possibly Hit a Bird" Possible causes of the accident are indicated by radio communications released by LiveATC. The pilot of the second aircraft reported to the dispatcher about a possible distress signal from his partner and suggested that his F-16 might have collided with a bird.  _Photo: WPBN_ When the dispatcher suggested directing the damaged fighter to Frankfurt or Traverse City airports, it became clear that the situation was significantly more serious. The partner warned emergency services to prepare for an ejection. Soon after, the aircraft crashed. However, the version of a bird strike cannot yet be considered an officially established cause of the crash. Derek Gutierrez, a representative of the 149th Fighter Wing, stated that he was not aware of any official confirmation of a bird strike. The causes of the incident are under investigation. ### A Fireball Erupted After the Crash Witnesses reported that before the crash, the F-16 was flying unusually low and slow. After the fall, a powerful explosion occurred, a fireball erupted, and thick black smoke rose over the crash site. The police initially ordered the evacuation of residents within a mile radius of the crash site due to hazardous materials found among the wreckage of the aircraft. Later, authorities declared the area safe and allowed people to return home. Notably, just a day before the accident, the military had published photographs of F-16s from the same 149th Wing participating in exercises in Michigan. The photos are dated September 16 and are available in the official archive of the U.S. Department of Defense DVIDS.
