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http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/02/airforce_predator_crash_iraq_022309w/
Predator crashes in Iraq; 2nd this month
Staff report
Posted : Monday Feb 23, 2009 12:52:04 EST
Posted : Monday Feb 23, 2009 12:52:04 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.
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