A fighter jet flying at the Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti in the Thunder over Michigan air show crashed Sunday, with emergency crews rushing to the scene. The plane, a former Soviet — now Russian — MiG-23 aircraft, burst into flames when it hit the ground.
No spectator injuries were initially reported.
The pilot, listed as Dan Filer in the program, ejected with parachutes, along with another person aboard.
Scott Buie, spokesman for the Yankee Air Museum, referred the Free Press to the Wayne County Airport Authority for comment about what happened The Free Press left a message. Witnesses reports and video posted to social media described hearing a boom and seeing a plumes of smoke could be seen south of the airport.
Moreover, based social media on accounts, it appeared that the plane may have narrowly missed hitting the Harbor Club apartments, and these aboard may have landed among cluster of boats in lake. There also appeared to be debris in the apartment complex parking lot.
It the show was celebrating its 25th anniversary.
It was not immediately clear what caused the crash or the conditions of the two who ejected.
Images of the ejection and the plane, taken by people at the event, have been circulating on social media.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jet crashes during Ypsilanti air show in Ypsilanti, pilot ejects
