Reaper damaged in Holloman AFB landing

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE Officials with the 49th Wing said a remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper aircraft sustained damage during landing around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The accident occurred at the end of a local training mission.

The aircraft is assigned to the 29th Attack Squadron, which is a remotely piloted aircraft flying training unit.

Lt. Michele Rollins with 49th Wing Public Affairs said no one was injured and no private property was damaged.

“We have an investigation (board) that will convene,” Rollins said. “The investigation is continuing. We have no other information to release at this time. Any damage to property is part of the investigation.”

Four previous Holloman-based unmanned aerial vehicles two MQ-1 Predators and two MQ-9 Reapers have also crashed since Sept. 11, 2009, when base declared the UAV’s initial operational capability. One crashed the day after Sept. 11, 2009. That accident was determined to be caused by a mechanical failure.

Two UAV crashes happened within a week of each other in October 2010, and the last unmanned aircraft mishap took place April 2 this year.

None of the UAV crashes involved injuries or damage to private property.