An MQ-9 Reaper drone valued at $13.1 million was lost in the Mediterranean Sea after experiencing a catastrophic mechanical failure during flight operations.
The December 2024 incident occurred when the unmanned aircraft suddenly lost its propeller due to a component failure within the propeller coupling system, according to Military.com. Air Combat Command released the incident report late last month, providing new details about the circumstances surrounding the aircraft's destruction.
The drone was operating within the European Command's area of responsibility when it experienced a mechanical failure on December 16, 2024. No fatalities, injuries, or damage to civilian property occurred as a result of the mishap, according to the official news release.
Investigation Reveals Component Failure
The Accident Investigation Board determined that a failure within the Splined Coupling Assembly caused the propeller to mechanically decouple from the engine. Col. Rick Schuessler, who served as the investigation board president, described the incident as resulting in "a sudden and permanent mechanical decoupling of the propeller from the engine, resulting in an unrecoverable loss of thrust."
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., the drone's manufacturer, identified the most likely cause as a failure of the Spiral Retaining Ring component. However, investigators could not definitively determine the exact cause due to the wreckage being unrecoverable from the Mediterranean Sea.
The failed component has a documented history of excessive wear and failure, according to the report. The aircraft had accumulated approximately 1,500 flight hours, reaching the halfway point before the Spiral Retaining Ring would have been replaced at the 3,000-hour maintenance threshold.
Drone Operations And Personnel
The MQ-9A Reaper belonged to the 432nd Wing stationed at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. Service members from the 20th Attack Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri were operating the unmanned aircraft during the mission.
The drone took off within the European Command's operational area before experiencing the sudden loss of thrust. The aircraft subsequently suffered deterioration of airspeed and began a gradual descent that ultimately led to its crash into the Mediterranean Sea.
The incident represents a complete loss of the multimillion-dollar asset, with no possibility of recovery due to the aircraft's location in the sea. Military officials confirmed that all safety protocols were followed during the emergency situation.
Rising Unmanned Aircraft Mishaps
Air Force Safety Center data reveal a concerning upward trend in unmanned aircraft Class A mishaps since 2018. These incidents represent the service's deadliest and most expensive crashes, with 87 such events occurring over the past decade.
The year 2018 marked a low point with only three Class A unmanned aircraft mishaps reported. However, subsequent years showed steady increases, with six crashes annually from 2019 through 2021.
More recent years have continued this troubling pattern, with four incidents in 2022, nine in 2023, and seven in 2024. The current year has already recorded three unmanned Class A mishaps, indicating the ongoing challenges facing drone operations.
Broader Implications For Military Operations
The Mediterranean Sea incident highlights ongoing reliability concerns with critical drone components. The Spiral Retaining Ring's documented history of excessive wear raises questions about maintenance schedules and component replacement protocols.
Military drone operations have become increasingly important for surveillance and combat missions worldwide. The loss of expensive assets like the MQ-9 Reaper represents significant financial impacts on defense budgets and operational capabilities.
The inability to recover the wreckage from the Mediterranean Sea prevents investigators from conducting a thorough analysis of the failed components. This limitation hampers efforts to implement comprehensive solutions that could prevent similar incidents in the future.
