Pilot Error Blamed for Reaper Drone Crash in Romania: Air Force Investigation
Last summer, a US Air Force MQ-9A Reaper drone crashed in Romania, and a recent investigation by Air Combat Command (ACC) has concluded that the crash was primarily due to pilot error. The incident occurred on July 14, 2022, at the 71st Air Base in Campia Turzii. According to local media reports, the drone went down in an isolated area near the base.
ACC officials stated that the Reaper drone, which was assigned to the 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, experienced control system malfunctions shortly after takeoff for a training mission in an undisclosed European location. The launch recovery element (LRE) controlling the unmanned aircraft system, consisting of the incident pilot and sensor operator, tried to guide the struggling drone back to base.
In an attempt to perform an emergency landing and bring the aircraft back safely, the LRE decided to cut power to the engine. However, they were misled by the drone’s misfire warning systems, misdiagnosing the issue as a jammed engine couple. Despite successfully shutting down the engine, the crew was unaware of this and attempted to abort the landing, intending to make another attempt. Unfortunately, the unresponsive Reaper crashed into the ground.
Fortunately, the only casualty of the incident was the drone itself, which was valued at $14.6 million. Flight safety analysts have reported a total of 68 MQ-9 Reaper crashes since the model first took flight in 2001. In a separate incident, a Russian jet collided with a Reaper drone over the Black Sea in March.
The US Air Force has been conducting MQ-9 missions from Romania since February 2021. Led by the 25th Strike Group and overseen by the 432nd, these operations aim to support the defense capabilities and security objectives of Romania and its NATO allies in Eastern Europe.
In conclusion, the July 2022 crash of the Air Force Reaper drone in Romania has been determined to be the result of pilot error, according to the investigation conducted by Air Combat Command. The incident highlights the importance of adhering to basic piloting techniques and maintaining focused attention when controlling unmanned aircraft systems. While the loss of the drone comes at a significant cost, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and risks associated with operating military drones.
