Predator Loss Explained: A failed ignition module was the primary cause of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crash July 30, 2007, at Balad AB, Iraq, according to the findings of the accident investigation board that Air Combat Command released March 27. The Predator, assigned to the 432d Wing at Creech AFB, Nev., went down 92 meters short of the Balad runway and was severely damaged with losses valued at about $2.2 million, plus some damage to airfield lights.
Fresh off its most ambitious test yet of an autonomous cargo plane, the Air Force is preparing to go even bigger by deploying and operating another such aircraft for an entire year.
