Italian Predator down in the Adriatic Sea
Posted: 13 Jan 2010, 13:10
My translation of the news reported here
http://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/ ... ategoria=1
CAMPOBASSO - A Predator UAV which took-off from Amendola-Foggia military airport, has fallen in the Adriatic Sea close to Campomarino (Campobasso - north-west of its operational base). The vehicle was carrying out a training flight, Italian AF says. Firemen from Termoli (Campobasso), Carabinieri (Military Police) and policemen are in the area alongside with some Coast Guard boats, which is currently interdicted to journalists and people. Only the tail of the aircraft is visible in the water.
According to a first statement, the aircraft, a Predator A-Plus belonging to the 32. Squadron of Italian AF, took-off at 10.15 for a training mission and was in levelled flight when it lost contacts with the base. A couple of AMX fighters from the same squadron immediately took-off to individuate the aircraft. At the moment the wreck is floating and sea waves are taking it towards the coast. No damage to person or things has been reported. According to the Air Force, it's the first loss of a Predator after about 6000 flying hours either in Italy and in the war theaters where it has been used (Iraq and Afghanistan).
http://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/ ... ategoria=1
CAMPOBASSO - A Predator UAV which took-off from Amendola-Foggia military airport, has fallen in the Adriatic Sea close to Campomarino (Campobasso - north-west of its operational base). The vehicle was carrying out a training flight, Italian AF says. Firemen from Termoli (Campobasso), Carabinieri (Military Police) and policemen are in the area alongside with some Coast Guard boats, which is currently interdicted to journalists and people. Only the tail of the aircraft is visible in the water.
According to a first statement, the aircraft, a Predator A-Plus belonging to the 32. Squadron of Italian AF, took-off at 10.15 for a training mission and was in levelled flight when it lost contacts with the base. A couple of AMX fighters from the same squadron immediately took-off to individuate the aircraft. At the moment the wreck is floating and sea waves are taking it towards the coast. No damage to person or things has been reported. According to the Air Force, it's the first loss of a Predator after about 6000 flying hours either in Italy and in the war theaters where it has been used (Iraq and Afghanistan).
.