Air Force Reaper Drone Crashes in Mediterranean After Mid-Flight Engine Failure

A recently published report from the Air Force has disclosed that an MQ-9A Reaper drone met its demise in the Mediterranean Sea in December 2024. The incident was triggered by a mid-flight decoupling of its propeller, resulting in a complete loss of engine power. 

The uncrewed aircraft, valued at $13 million, was under the remote control of the 20th Attack Squadron, operating from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. In a remarkable display of quick thinking and decisive action, the flight crew, despite the vast distance, addressed the in-flight emergency with urgency, ultimately opting to ditch the drone into the sea. The wreckage remains unrecovered.

The Air Force’s Accident Investigation Board has determined that the crash was not caused by any crew error, negligence, or maintenance failure. The maintenance logs for the drone were up to date, and the crew possessed all necessary qualifications. A routine mid-flight crew swap took a tragic turn when a second pilot, unexpectedly stepping in to relieve the first, became involved in an accident during uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) operations.

At 8:00 a.m. local time, the drone took to the skies, embarking on what seemed to be a routine flight. However, the situation took a turn when an engine failure occurred around noon, marking a significant shift in the day's events. 

The crew undertook a series of emergency measures, notably executing a rare “rack swap,” a procedure that entails exchanging workstations in the Ground Control Station to eliminate potential equipment malfunctions. In a critical moment, the pilot made the decisive call, recognizing that the engine failure was beyond recovery and that the aircraft was unable to glide to safety on land.

The MQ-9A, assigned to the 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, was operated by personnel from a geographically separated unit, exemplifying the characteristics of contemporary drone warfare. In a surprising turn of events, Whiteman AFB, which has been operating Reapers for over ten years, welcomed an MQ-9A for a physical visit for the very first time in July 2024.

The report sheds light on the intricate logistics and operational hurdles that underpin the daily drone missions conducted by the U.S., which traverse vast continents and multiple time zones.

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