A spokesperson at Fort Indiantown Gap confirmed that the aircraft took off from their headquarters. According to a press release from the base, the drone was performing training operations when it experienced an uncontrolled landing and was run-over by a civilian vehicle near the Comfort Inn.
The vehicle reported minor damages and the drone, an RQ-7 Shadow worth $125,000, was destroyed. It is operated by the Combat Aviation Brigade, 28th Infantry Division, a heavy aviation unit of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. It is used for real-time observation and is one of the smaller drone aircraft that the 28th Infantry operates.
The RQ-7 Shadow weighs approximately 375 pounds and is approximately 11 feet long and has a wingspan of 14 feet.
In the press release, the base says it presently conducts training operations with the RQ-7 Shadow and RQ-11 Raven unmanned aerial vehicles out of Fort Indiantown Gap over the installation’s approved airspace.
The cause of the accident is under investigation by base officials.
The scene was being cleared shortly before 5 p.m.
Story and video: http://www.wgal.com
