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 Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.