Holloman MQ-9 Reaper crashes in New Mexico - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Holloman MQ-9 Reaper crashes in New Mexico

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — An unmanned aircraft from Holloman Air Force Base has crashed in Alamogordo.

Officials with the 49th Wing say the MQ-9 Reaper went down on base property at 6:45 p.m. Friday as it approached for landing.

Base officials say the cause of the crash is being investigated although the Alamogordo Daily News reported that the Reaper may have hit a power line.

The aircraft is assigned to the 29th Attack Squadron, which is a remotely piloted aircraft flying training unit. The accident occurred at the end of a training mission.

Five previous Holloman-based unmanned aerial vehicles two MQ-1 Predators and three MQ-9 Reapers have crashed since Sept. 11, 2009, when the base declared the UAV’s initial operational capability.