Hazard Above: Drone crash database
Fallen from the skies
By Emily Chow, Alberto Cuadra and Craig Whitlock, Updated Jan. 19, 2016, originally published June 20, 2014.
Since 2001, the U.S. military has had a problem with drones crashing around the world. Last year, though, set a record for Air Force drone crashes. All told, 20 large Air Force drones were destroyed or badly damaged in accidents last year, the worst annual toll ever, according to a Washington Post investigation. Driving the increase was a rise in mishaps involving the Air Force’s most advanced “hunter-killer” drone, the Reaper.
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The 237 "Class A" drone crashes
According to accident-investigation reports and other records, since 2001 there have been 237 military drone crashes that were categorized as 'Class A' mishaps: accidents that destroyed the aircraft or caused at least $2 million in damage.
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Crash numbers rising again
The number of U.S. military drone crashes climbed sharply last year, with the Air Force marking a record. Here's a breakdown of each crash by year and by branch of military service.
Accidents by year
Not just in war zones
About one-third of the crashes occurred in Afghanistan, but nearly one-quarter happened in the United States during test and training flights. As the Pentagon deploys drones away from traditional combat zones, more accidents are occurring in Africa and other locations.
MQ-9 Reaper
6 ft. man
to scale
55 feet
Air Force
The bigger, faster and more reliable successor to the Predator. It can fly as high as 50,000 feet and carry four Hellfire missiles, twice as many as the Predator. The Air Force expects to replace all its Predators with Reapers by 2018. The civilian version of the MQ-9 is called the Predator B.
MQ-1 Predator
66 ft.
Air Force
First flown in 1994, the Predator later became the first weaponized drone. Designed to conduct surveillance with powerful cameras and sensors, it can be armed with laser-guided Hellfire missiles. It often stays aloft on missions for more than 20 hours at a time and can reach an altitude of 25,000 feet.
MQ-9 Reaper
6 ft. man
to scale
55 feet
Air Force
The bigger, faster and more reliable successor to the Predator. It can fly as high as 50,000 feet and carry four Hellfire missiles, twice as many as the Predator. The Air Force expects to replace all its Predators with Reapers by 2018. The civilian version of the MQ-9 is called the Predator B.
MQ-1 Predator
66 ft.
Air Force
First flown in 1994, the Predator later became the first weaponized drone. Designed to conduct surveillance with powerful cameras and sensors, it can be armed with laser-guided Hellfire missiles. It often stays aloft on missions for more than 20 hours at a time and can reach an altitude of 25,000 feet.
MQ-1 Predator
MQ-9 Reaper
6 ft. man
66 ft.
55 ft.
to scale
Air Force
Air Force
First flown in 1994, the Predator later became the first weaponized drone. Designed to conduct surveillance with powerful cameras and sensors, it can be armed with laser-guided Hellfire missiles. It often stays aloft on missions for more than 20 hours at a time and can reach an altitude of 25,000 feet.
The bigger, faster and more reliable successor to the Predator. It can fly as high as 50,000 feet and carry four Hellfire missiles, twice as many as the Predator. The Air Force expects to replace all its Predators with Reapers by 2018. The civilian version of the MQ-9 is called the Predator B.
Select a drone crash to see details
Sources: Air Force, Army, Navy accident-investigation reports; Defense Department records; General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.; Northrop Grumman Corp.
When drones fall from the sky
More than 400 large U.S. military drones have crashed in major accidents around the world since 2001, a record of calamity that exposes the potential dangers of throwing open American skies to drone traffic, according to a year-long Washington Post investigation.
How drones are controlled
Seven models of military drones are involved in the great majority of crashes. See how the ground-control station keeps in contact with the drone.