MONROE (WWJ) - After nighttime operations conducted by the Ohio Air National Guard rattled residents in Southeast Michigan in early April, the unit wants to warn the community that the F-16 fighter jets will once again take to the sky on Thursday evening.
Officials said pilots and maintenance personnel with the 180th Fighter Wing will conduct nighttime training flights the evening of April 28, weather permitting.
Residents and airplane enthusiasts can expect to see and hear the powerful F-16 jets landing and taking off from the unit's station at Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport in Ohio, located 10 miles south of the Michigan border until about 11:30 p.m.
Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker explained that training flights normally take place during daylight hours, but personnel are required to keep up their overall readiness training, which includes conducting night operations.
"The 180th Fighter Wing appreciates the continued support from the citizens of Ohio and Michigan as we continue to train in support of our mission," Holliker said in a press release on Thursday.
The announcement comes weeks after Michiganders living in Allen Park, Monroe, Riverview, Newport and more all reported hearing the signature boom of the unit's fighter jets, which came as a shock for many.
Some residents even called the police, fearing military conflict in Ukraine had come to their backyards.
Related
"It would have been nice if we had a warning here in southern Wayne County Michigan," one poster said on facebook. "People are a little freaked out with everything going on in the world."
"I thought we were getting blown up!!" another comment said on social media. "I live super close to Fermi and when I tell you I was shook... I was literally shaking."
The unit said they try to push their schedules through on social media and through local news outlets but, "not everyone gets the message."
A spokesperson said following the unit's social media pages will keep residents current on nighttime flight schedules.
Related
