Air Force drone crashes in remote area near Mt. Whitney
Officials said the crash caused a small wildfire that was quickly brought under control. (June 22, 2017) (Sign up for our free video newsletter here http://bit.ly/2n6VKPR)
- Share via
Reporting from Bishop, Calif. — A U.S. Air Force drone the size of a small airliner has crashed in a remote section of California near Mt. Whitney.
Edwards Air Force Base said in a statement that the RQ-4 Global Hawk, an unmanned surveillance aircraft, was making a routine trip Wednesday afternoon from Edwards to its usual home at Beale Air Force Base when it crashed for unknown reasons.
The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department said the crash caused a small wildfire that was quickly brought under control.
The aircraft, which has a 130-foot wingspan, is designed to fly at high altitudes for long distances. It is slowly replacing the manned U-2 spy planes used for decades by the Air Force.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
ALSO
California heat wave claims the lives of 2 Bay Area seniors
DWP contract could spark costly demands from other city unions
Man with cache of powerful weapons arrested at Pasadena transit station
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
