F-16 jet dumps two fuel tanks in emergency, causing explosion

ISOCO COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — An F-16 jet dumped two fuel tanks during an emergency on Wednesday, one of which exploded in Lake Huron.

The Iosco County Sheriff’s Office said dispatchers received a report at 1:15 p.m. of an explosion in the area of Baldwin Resort Road.

The sheriff’s office said two F-16 jets from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Squadron had been operating in the area at the time of the report.

“One of those F-16’s declared an emergency and dumped two external fuel tanks full of jet fuel. One of those tanks landed north of Baldwin Resort Road in Lake Huron and exploded,” the sheriff’s office said. 

The second fuel tank landed in a parking lot near the Save-A-Lot store in East Tawas. The sheriff’s office said no one was injured and this resulted in “only minor damage to a few vehicles.”

The sheriff’s office said both fighter jets landed safely in Toledo.

In an update, the sheriff’s office said the U.S. Coast Guard was able to recover a “partial suspected fuel tank from Lake Huron.”

It was also stated the Oscoda Airport received a distress call from a military aircraft that was identified as a “Buzz 11.”

“After the original call Oscoda airport advised they did not have a plane arrive in Oscoda and also did not hear any other calls or know of the outcome of the planes that made the distress call,” the sheriff’s office said.