A Texas Air National Guard pilot safely ejected from an F-16 Fighting Falcon after the aircraft crashed Thursday near Traverse City during a routine training mission from the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center.
The aircraft was assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing at JBSA-Lackland in Texas, according to a U.S. Department of War press release cited by The Alpena News. The incident remains under investigation.
What happened
The crash involved an F-16 Fighting Falcon operating from the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft, but the supplied information does not identify the pilot or provide details about injuries, damage or the exact crash location near Traverse City.
The incident was reported Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. Officials had not released additional findings in the supplied report, which said updates were expected.
Alpena school event canceled
Alpena Public Schools canceled the flyover planned for Friday’s Valor Game as a result of the crash. Lee Fitzpatrick, the district’s director of communications, expressed support for the pilot and the 149th Fighter Wing team.
“Our thoughts are with the 149th Fighter Wing pilot and their team,”
The crash investigation is the next stated step. No further information about the canceled flyover or a possible replacement plan was provided.