National Guard F-16 crashes in UP

The status of a pilot of a single-seat F-16 fighter jet that crashed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on Tuesday night remains unknown as rescue workers continue to search the area, the Wisconsin National Guard said.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing was on a routine training mission when it crashed around 8 p.m. on Tuesday. It had departed from Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison, Wis.

“The cause of the crash, as well as the status of the pilot, are unknown at this time,” the Guard said on social media, adding that the incident is under investigation. “We will release additional details as they become available.”

In an update Wednesday morning, the Wisconsin National Guard said the search for the pilot is ongoing and that their status remains unknown.

The crash occurred north of the Garden Peninsula, near the border of Delta and Schoolcraft counties in the Hiawatha National Forest, according to MLive.com. U.S. Forest Service assisted local authorities in setting up a perimeter and starting the search late Tuesday.

The 115th Fighter Wing on Sunday said it was conducting evening training flights from Dec. 7 through Dec. 10, according to its Facebook page.

They said at the time that area residents may see or hear F-16 fighter jets “taking off or landing until approximately 10:00 p.m.”

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who has served with the Wisconsin National Guard, reacted to the news of the crash.

“My unit: please keep in your prayers. Godspeed,” he wrote on Twitter.

The Truax Field Air National Guard Base is located about 75 miles west of Milwaukee.