DELTA COUNTY, MI-- An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing in Madison crashed in the Hiawatha National Forest Tuesday night.
Officials say the pilot was on a routine training mission when the jet went down near Stevens Lake around 8 p.m. Local emergency personnel, the U.S. Coast Guard and other government agencies are at the scene. They're searching for the pilot on the ground, by air and in the water. Additional personnel will arrive later today to secure the crash site.
The status of the pilot is unknown at this time.
“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. “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."
The incident remains under investigation. Additional details will be released as they become available.
