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news/2008/04/airforce_predator_crash_040908w

Predator crashes in Iraq


By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Apr 11, 2008 8:34:44 EDT

An MQ-1 Predator has crashed in Iraq.

It’s the second Predator to go down in the war zone in six days. The latest accident occurred at about 7:10 p.m. Wednesday. The remote-controlled plane went down “northwest of Balad,” which is about 50 miles north of Baghdad.

The Predator took off from Ali Air Base [formerly known as Talil] and was on an armed reconnaissance mission.

While an Air Force release didn’t specify what led to the crash, the service said “mechanical failure is suspected.”

On April 4, an MQ-1 crashed at 12:40 p.m., after touching down and rolling off the runway at Balad Air Base.

Wednesday’s accident marked the sixth crash of a Predator in the past 12 months. New planes cost about $3.5 million each.

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