An MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft crashed in southern Turkey, the Air Force said Wednesday.
The RPA likely experienced a mechanical failure, but an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the crash, said a press release from U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. U.S. military and Turkish officials are on the scene of the crash.
There were no reported injuries, and the Air Force said the RPA went down in an unpopulated area at about 1:40 a.m. local time.
It's the second reported loss of a Predator for the Air Force in the new year. A Predator crashed in Iraq Jan. 8 while on a combat mission. Officials said the RPA was not hit by enemy fire and not captured by enemy combatants.