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U.S. Border Patrol Drone Goes Down, Rest of Fleet Grounded

Posted by Soulskill on from the in-the-event-of-a-water-landing dept.

coondoggie writes "The U.S. Customs and Border Protection service said today it has grounded its nine remaining unmanned aircraft after one of them was forced to ditch in the Pacific Ocean. The unmanned aircraft had an unknown mechanical failure while on patrol off the southern California coast. The crew determined that it wouldn't make it back to Sierra Vista, Arizona, 'and put the aircraft down in the water.' The drone cost about $12 million. 'The Predator B, also known as the MQ-9 Reaper in the U.S. Air Force, can fly as many as 27 hours and reach an altitude of 50,000 feet (15,240 meters), according to the website of Poway, California-based General Atomics. It has a wingspan of 66 feet (20 meters) and can carry more than 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of cameras, weapons or other payload, according to the company.'"

7 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. Re:...and can carry more than 3,000 pounds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I just figured it was carrying your mother.

  2. Re:...and can carry more than 3,000 pounds by turkeydance · · Score: 3, Funny

    mother-in-law

  3. Grounded, you say? by dohzer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thanks for the heads up; see you on the other side.

  4. Re:Pacific, or Arizona ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I live in San Diego. They should have crashed it into my bed so I can go back in time through a baby universe and converse with a big ugly rabbit named Frank.

  5. Re:...and can carry more than 3,000 pounds by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 3, Funny

    Anyone else read that as "of 1,361 kilos of cocaine, weapons or other payload"?

    FTFY

  6. Re:Pacific, or Arizona ? by Charliemopps · · Score: 5, Funny

    Drone: Confirmation on armament of payload?
    Pilot: Cancel armament
    Drone: Armament confirmed. Target 48 miles and closing.
    Pilot: CANCEL TARGET
    Drone: Confirmed, Arming warhead.
    Pilot: Warhead?!? Cancel Target!!!
    Drone: Nuclear detonation will destroy drone, confirm?
    Pilot: Nuclear? What?!?! Putting her down!!!

    *giggles from outside control room*

    Pilots friends: Dude we totally got you!! You thought it was going to launch a nuke!!! Hahahaha! Did you piss yourself?!?! Hahahaha!
    Pilot: No, I put her down in the pacific.
    *Pilots ex-friends back slowly out of the room*

  7. Re:Anti-drone drone by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Isn't an 'anti-drone drone' called a 'surface to air missile'?