Predator crashes in Iraq; 2nd this month

[unhappycamper]

Predator crashes in Iraq; 2nd this month
Staff report
Posted : Monday Feb 23, 2009 12:52:09 EST

An unmanned aerial vehicle crashed Sunday in Iraq, according to the Air Force.

The crash of the MQ-1 Predator, flown out of Joint Base Balad, occurred at 4:30 p.m. after an Air National Guard crew lost communications with the remote-controlled plane. The wreckage was discovered about 45 minutes later.

The crash is the second of a Predator this month. An Air Force special operations MQ-1 went down Feb. 8 in Afghanistan.

The Predator is designed to continue flying on auto-pilot if it is not able to receive directions from crew members on the ground. However, often a communications loss is the result of mechanical or electrical problems that the auto-pilot cannot handle, resulting in a crash.

An accident investigation board will look into what led to the loss of the plane, worth about $3.5 million.


Rest of article at: http://airforcetimes.com/news/2009/02/airforce_predator_crash_iraq_022309w/%2e