The MQ-1 Predator that crashed in Southwest Asia on March 27 was brought down by an engine fire, so determined an Air Combat Command crash investigation team. ACC released the investigation results Friday. There apparently was a fuel leak in the left forward part of the engine that was ignited “most likely” by the turbocharger, alternator, or cylinder head.
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.