The U.S. Air Force completed recovery operations of an MQ-9 Reaper drone that crashed off South Korea’s west coast in November, the 8th Fighter Wing said Sunday.
The drone crashed near Maldo-ri Island off the western city of Gunsan, about 180 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 24 during a routine mission. No injuries or damage to public property were reported.
“Following a thorough and collaborative effort, the recovery operation has now been successfully completed,” the 8th Fighter Wing told Yonhap News Agency.
The U.S. Air Force conducted the operation in cooperation with the South Korean Navy, Coast Guard and Army. “The combined expertise and resources of our two militaries were essential to the success of this operation,” the wing said.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The Air Force did not say whether it plans to deploy another MQ-9 to replace the lost aircraft.
“Our priority remains the safety and effectiveness of our operations. We are continuously evaluating our operational posture and resource allocation to ensure mission requirements are met,” the 8th Fighter Wing said.
The crashed drone was assigned to the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, a unit activated in late September. The activation marked the first time such a squadron was permanently stationed on the Korean Peninsula following previous rotational deployments.
The MQ-9 Reaper is designed for surveillance and attack missions with an extended range of more than 1,600 miles. The drones are used to conduct surveillance on North Korea and monitor activities in the Yellow Sea.
