Predator Mishap

Nov. 5, 2008

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed Nov. 2 in southern Afghanistan, the Air Force said in a release. The service said it intends to convene an accident investigation board to determine the cause of the mishap. Before this accident, the Air Force had lost a total of 39 armed MQ-1 and unarmed RQ-1 Predators in missions supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Air Force Moves to Purchase T-7 Engines, Not Boeing

Reserve Wing at Whiteman Takes ‘First Step’ Toward Replacing A-10s with F-15Es

Experts See Urgent Need to Defend Bases from Drone Attack. Here’s What USAF Is Doing

Former NORAD Boss: Air Bases in US Vulnerable to Ukraine-Style Drone Attack

Related

Fly, Fix, Defend: Wilsbach Aims for a Readier Air Force 

July 31, 2026
When Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach became Chief of Staff of the Air Force in November 2025, he coined a simple motto: “Fly and Fix”—so you can fight if necessary. In the nine months since, Airmen have been flying, fixing, and fighting—a lot.

Air Force Cracks Down on Non-Compliant Computers and Software

July 31, 2026
The Department of the Air Force’s lead unit for cyberspace operations recently began the first phase of a network hardening effort and is slated to start the second phase using artificial intelligence-automated software, even as some of the updates are causing computer quarantines across the department.

GAO Warns B-52 Modernization Is Falling Behind

July 31, 2026
The Air Force’s plan to start production on a new engine for the B-52H Stratofortress before conducting critical flight tests runs the risk of cost overruns and more schedule delays, government auditors said in a new report released July 31.

Air Force Official: CCAs Will Be ‘Optionally Attritable’

July 30, 2026
The Air Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft may fly scores of missions over many years or only a few if commanders decide a mission is worth the risk of losing one, a top official said this week—a middle ground approach he called “optionally attritable.”