BLAIR TWP. Mich. (WWJ) -- Evacuation orders were issued in Northern Michigan, Thursday afternoon, after a fighter jet crashed south of Traverse City.
According to Blair Township Supervisor Nicole Blonshine, the aircraft went down at around 1:30 p.m., crashing into a pond between two houses in Grand Traverse County's Blair Township.
This is in the area of County Road 633 and Blair Townhall Road.
Blonshine, who lives nearby, told WWJ Newsradio 950 that she saw the aircraft and heard a loud crash — with a force that shook her chair.
She then saw smoke, and raced home to make sure her house was not damaged.
Blonshine said the pilot was ejected, came down in a parachute, and was conscious and alert when taken to the hospital.
Michael Kroll, a spokesman for the National Guard training facility Camp Grayling, confirmed to WWJ Newsradio 950 that the aircraft was an F-16 that originated in Texas. Officials said that the jet was participating in training exercise at National Guard base in Alpena, about 190 miles north of Detroit.
As heard on the mayday call, the pilot believed he hit a bird, prior to the crash.
There was an shelter in place order issued for residents from County Rd 633 From Jefferson PL to Blair Townhall Rd. Grand Traverse County Emergency Management wrote: "Shelter indoors, close windows/vents. Follow instructions from emergency personnel."
An evacuation order was then issued for anyone within one mile of the crash site.
Among those under that order were Wendy Sobeck and her husband Fred. They heard a loud sound, and thought it was a car accident until they looked outside.
"It was just a big fireball in the field," Sobek said. "The field was on fire, a pretty large section, black smoke billowing up."
Sobek told WWJ's Amanda Forrester that emergency responders ordered them back into their house for safety.
Sgt. Derek Gutierrez, a public affairs specialist with the 149th Fighter Wing, said the pilot was receiving medical treatment at a local hospital, later in the afternoon. Speaking to The Associated Press, he declined to release details about the pilot’s identity or any injuries.
The Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office was handling the situation on the ground.
There are no further details at this time.
Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest information. >>LISTEN LIVE!!
