Has anyone seen a stray missile? The Army is asking the public for help finding a dummy missile lost Friday morning during an Apache helicopter flight from Fort Drum in northern New York to this weekend's air show at Stewart International Airport in the lower Hudson Valley.
FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- An Apache helicopter flying from Fort Drum lost a non-explosive dummy missile Friday during a flight to Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, Orange County, according to Army officials.
The 100-pound inert missile was lost between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Friday, and still had not been recovered as of 5 p.m., the officials said.
The missile had been attached to an Apache helicopter with Fort Drum's 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, part of the 10th Mountain Division assigned to the Northern New York Army post.
Fort Drum officials described the missing missile as an M36 Captive Flight Training Missile that is not explosive or motorized, and therefore poses no risk to the public. It is usually attached to the helicopter to simulate the weight of a missile during flight.
"It's not even something the pilot can drop from the helicopter," said Julie Halpin, speaking for Fort Drum. "It's just there for weight."
Fort Drum officials are appealing for the public's help in locating the missile. Anyone with information is asked to call their local police agency or the 10th Mountain Division Operations Center at (315) 772-6324.
The missile, painted with the words U.S. Army, has a length of 64 inches and a width of 7 inches. It simulates the Hellfire guided missiles that Apache helicopters can use in combat.
Halpin said the Apache helicopter and its crew traveled from Fort Drum to Stewart International Airport to take part in the New York Air Show this weekend.
It was the second accident Friday in advance of the air show. A pilot was killed at about 2 p.m. Friday when his Giles G-202 plane crashed while practicing for the show at Stewart, state police said.
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