US Air Force lost control of two Predator drones, similar to the one pictured here on March 7, 2013, in separate incidents recently in Turkey and Iraq, a US military official said (AFP Photo/John Moore)
AFP: Two armed US Predator drones crash in Iraq, Turkey
Washington (AFP) - The US Air Force recently lost control of two armed Predator drones in separate incidents in Turkey and Iraq, a US military official said Wednesday.
The Predators were both carrying air-to-surface Hellfire missiles when they crashed, but these were safely recovered along with the aircraft.
In the first case on October 17, a Predator crew reported a "lost link and subsequent crash while the Predator was flying southeast of Baghdad," military spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said.
Local Iraqi police recovered the drone in the vicinity of Al-Kut. They returned the aircraft to US control and there were no injuries, Warren said.
Update #1: 2 USAF Predator Drones Crash In Turkey -- Defense News
Update #2: Two armed US Predator drones crash in Iraq, Turkey: Military -- Press TV
WNU Editor: Two in just a few days .... you have to wonder if it was more than just a mechanical malfunction.
