1 min read

Report: $14M Drone Piloted From Ellsworth Crashed Overseas

Associated Press0

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A recently released report from the U.S. Air Force shows a drone worth over $14 million that was being remotely piloted from Ellsworth Air Force Base was intentionally crashed last year somewhere over the Middle East following a mechanical failure.

The Rapid City Journal reports ( ) the report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board was released July 30. It says the MQ-9A Reaper drone made by General Atomics experienced a starter-generator failure during flight.

The failure led to further problems that ultimately caused the drone to be ditched in mountainous terrain in December. The wreckage wasn’t recovered.

Though the mechanical failure was determined to be the cause of the crash, actions by a pilot and commander on the ground at Ellsworth are listed in the report as “substantially contributing factors.”

___

Information from: Rapid City Journal,

The AP is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, as a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members, it can maintain its single-minded focus on newsgathering and its commitment to the highest standards of objective, accurate journalism.
Website http://ap.org/

Related Posts