Mexican unmanned drone crashes in backyard of El Paso (Texas) home

[kpete]

Source: El Paso Times

Mexican unmanned drone crashes in backyard of El Paso home
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Posted: 12/16/2010 12:08:45 PM MST

An unmanned drone belonging to the Mexican government crash landed Tuesday in El Paso's Lower Valley, officials confirmed today.

"I was told that it crashed in somebody's back yard, and that no one was injured. I was paged at 6:28 p.m. on Tuesday, so it happened shortly before that. We were told it was not a police matter," said Detective Mike Baranyay, a spokesman for the El Paso Police Department.

The crash occurred at Yarbrough and Loop 375.

Police said the U.S. Border Patrol seized the aircraft, which was to be transported back to one of the international bridges so that Mexican officials could recover the drone.

Read more: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_16875462

[HereSince1628]

1. Not a civilian or a local police matter.

I get the feeling that comment could become much more common.

[slackmaster]

2. Was it full of candy by any chance?

[smiley]

4. now that was funny

:rofl:

[puebloknot]

11. LOL! Yes, and Julian Assange knocked it out of the sky ...

... with a baseball bat, while blindfolded.

I used to live in El Paso. Years ago, a "guided" missile was launched from White Sands Proving Grounds (now White Sands Missile Range), and landed in a graveyard in Juarez. Guess we can call this payback, though a little delayed.

[Mike 03]

3. This is an interesting story for many reasons

The drug war in Mexico is pushing northwards with increasingly obvious consequences. I'm not entirely convinced that the Mexican government has technology superior to the cartels they are attempting to defeat, so it would not surprise me if this drone was devised by the cartels.

ON EDIT: Kick and rec. This is important stuff, and we should take it seriously.

[Bobbieo]

9. Yes, this is very important stuff that is basically being ignored by

people who are not border state residents. Cartel members are moving into the US on a daily basis and getting bolder with every move and believe me they have the guns and are not looking for American jobs.

It is no longer a Mexcan gov't problem. I have no idea how to stop them and they are practically at my doostep. Legalize drugs - is that the answer.

[puebloknot]

13. DUPE. DELETED BY POSTER.

[puebloknot]

14. After joking around a bit, I agree. I live just up the road in ...

... Santa Fe and I agree it's serious.

We've known for a long time that local gangs, mob people, and other undesirable types are operational here. I read that Santa Fe has the distinctive honor of being second in the nation for burglaries and home-invasion robberies very recently.

No jobs and drugs are a perfect combination for violence. But these people aren't Jean Valjean stealing candlesticks just to stay alive.

[guitar man]

5. Bummer

They came and took it back? Bullshit, if it lands in my yard, it's mine! :evilgrin:

[Creative]

6. I was thinking exactly the same thing. If it crashed in my back yard, it wouldn't make the news.

[Sonoman]

8. I'd suspend it from the ceiling and have a party.

The Free Mexican Air Force Party.

Sonoman

[guitar man]

17. Exactly

I'd have it in the workshop rebuilding and repainting it. I always wanted a big rc plane! :silly:

[Creative]

7. dupe

[Angry Dragon]

12. That is what I was thinking

I would have to wait for one from Canada or maybe one of ours

[gratuitous]

10. So, is the U.S. upset about it?

I mean, we send our drones out all the time in air space that doesn't belong to us. I suppose some of them crash, but more often they launch armed attacks on people in their range. We don't seem to notice any of the outrage expressed by our victims; should Mexico care about any outrage in the U.S. over this comparatively harmless incident?

[kpete]

15. UPDATE:

When we first heard about this I was like: they have drones too? And then we found out they're part of a big shipment of drones the Mexicans bought earlier this year from Israel.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/unmanned_mexican_drone_crashes_near_el_paso_texas.php?ref=fpblg

[Po_d Mainiac]

20. Slightly used Israeli drone for sale...only crashed once n/t

[dkofos]

16. Bet that didn't cost the Mexican Govt. $10 million.

[Po_d Mainiac]

18. Did it have a green card? n/t

[Yavapai]

19. Are they sure it didn't have 8 undocumented inside when it landed?

Maybe it is a new way of importing pot. Think I will build
a landing strip out in the back 40...