Officials are searching for the pilot of a Wisconsin F-16 fighter jet that crashed in Michigan on Tuesday evening (December 8).
The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs confirmed that the Fighting Falcon aircraft, assigned at the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison, crashed around 8 p.m. in Delta County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
“The 115th Fighter Wing participated in a coordinated search effort with local emergency responders, the U.S. Coast Guard and other government agencies overnight,” a statement from the Wisconsin Department of Military Services reads. “Search and rescue efforts on the ground, in the air, and in the water continue.”
The statement said the pilot’s status remains unknown as of Wednesday morning (December 9). The pilot was the lone occupant of the F-16. It was also not immediately clear what caused the crash, according to the department.
The F-16 crashed during a routine training mission, according to the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs.
“We are a close knit family and when an incident like this occurs, every member in our organization feels it.”, said Col. Bart Van Roo, 115th Fighter Wing commander. “Right now the safety of our pilot along with search and rescue efforts are our top priority, and we will continue to pray for the pilot’s safe return”.
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