An Air Force MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft suffered a “hard landing” in Niamey, Niger, following an unarmed reconnaissance and surveillance sortie in support of operations in West Africa last Monday, officials said.
The impact “damaged the runway at Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey” but caused no injury to military or civilian personnel, US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa spokesman Capt. William-Joseph Mojica told Air Force Magazine.
Two airport sources in Niger who declined to be identified said the drone crashed on its return from a surveillance mission. The private Anfani radio station said the crash occurred between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.
The RPA was reportedly supporting French military operations against Islamist militants in neighboring Mali, according to a Reuters report. “The US government is working closely with the government of Niger to secure the scene and mitigate inconveniences caused by the incident,” Mojica added in an Oct. 21 statement. The service is currently investigating the incident and will provide further information pending the results, according to USAFE-AFAFRICA officials.
Source: Air Force Magazine