13 August 2023 , 21:21
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Two pilots were forced to eject from a fighter jet that crashed into a parking lot during a major airshow near Willow Run Airport, Michigan.
A video of the incident shows two pilots using parachutes to ejefct after the MiG 23 Russian Fighter jet they were in lost control at the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show.
The aircraft crashed into a parking lot by The Waverly on the Lake apartment complex in Belleville, where it struck unoccupied cars.
Law enforcement has confirmed both pilots are in stable condition. They were recovered from the water and did not have significant injuries but were taken to hospital for checks.
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The plane by the apartment building (Twitter)
Miraculously no one was hurt (donloepp/Twitter)The cause of the crash is not yet known. The NTSB is investigating told the Mirror in a statement that the pilots declared an emergency before the crash.
The statement said: "NTSB is investigating the Aug. 13 crash of a MiG-23 near Detroit, Michigan. The aircraft was part of the Thunder Over Michigan air show.
"Preliminary information indicates the pilots declared an emergency and ejected immediately afterward. The aircraft crashed into an apartment parking lot."
The plane before the crash (Twitter)Both pilots ejected and parachuted over Belleville Lake before they were recovered. A plume of black smoke could be seen coming from the area the aircraft was lost and flames were seen erupting from the crash site. Firefighters attended the scene.
In what is the 25th year of the show, the rest of the display was cancelled and spectators were asked to return to their vehicles. There are no reports of injuries caused by the plane hitting the ground.
The pilots were rescued from a lake (Twitter)A spokesperson from the event confirmed the MiG-23, a third-generation Soviet jet fighter produced from 1967 to 1985, was the plane that crashed.
In a statement, Wayne County Airport Authority confirmed the pair suffered no injuries - and revealed that the jet struck unoccupied cars in a nearby apartment parking lot.
They said: "Shortly after 4:00 p.m. Sunday, a MiG-23 demonstration plane performing at the Yankee Air Museum’s Thunder over Michigan air show crashed into the parking lot at the Waverly on the Lake Apartments in Belleville.
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"The pilot and backseater successfully ejected from the aircraft before the crash. While it did not appear they sustained any significant injuries, first responders transported the pair to a nearby hospital as a precaution.
"The aircraft struck unoccupied vehicles in the apartment complex’s parking lot. No one at the apartment complex nor the air show was injured. The FAA is investigating the crash."
The plane was left smouldering on the ground (Twitter/@ynbatfowtsf)The air show posted an update to Facebook warning attendees that the show was being put on a pause.
'Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a situation that requires us to stop the show,' they wrote.
'Please make your way into your vehicles and calmly make your way out of the airfield.'
'Please be patient as we control traffic around the area.'