An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed on Thursday in central Iraq at approximately 7:50 a.m. Baghdad time, Air Forces Central said in a release. The crash was not due to hostile fire, and there were no reports of civilian injuries or damage to civilian property at the crash site, AFCENT said. A board is being convened to investigate the incident. As of June 30, the Air Force had lost 48 Predators supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
