{"id":"9e5f2c7c-4278-4ca5-8a69-48dffb60482f","slug":"mq-9-reaper-propeller-crash-mediterranean-2024","kind":"malfunction","headline":"MQ-9 Reaper crashed into Mediterranean Sea after propeller decoupled mid-flight","summary":"An MQ-9A Reaper worth $13 million crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on December 16, 2024, after its propeller decoupled from the engine due to failure of a spiral lock ring inside the gearbox. The aircraft was operated by the 20th Attack Squadron from Whiteman AFB, taking off from a U.S. European Command location. The crew declared an emergency and ditched the aircraft in the water. The drone was unrecoverable.","occurredAt":"2024-12-16T00:00:00.000Z","reviewStatus":"reviewed","modelId":"0e3700b0-9892-486e-85e5-a19da5e4686e","deploymentId":null,"companyId":null,"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"none","reviewNote":null,"severity":null,"rootCauseCategory":null,"rootCauseDetail":null,"affectedUnitsCount":null,"affectedUnitsBasis":null,"remediationStatus":null,"regulatoryAction":null,"regulatoryBody":null,"propertyDamageEstimateUsd":null,"damageEstimateBasis":null,"bodilyInjurySeverity":null,"fatalityCount":null,"lossCostClass":null,"sourceQualityTier":null,"oshaRecordable":null,"oshaCaseNumber":null,"rootCauseDisclosed":null,"publicDisclosureDate":null,"insuranceClaimPublic":null,"formFactor":"aerial","latitude":{"s":1,"e":1,"d":[39]},"longitude":{"s":-1,"e":1,"d":[97]},"autonomyClass":null,"legalOutcomeClass":"unknown","createdAt":"2026-07-14T23:23:28.368Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-09T05:24:01.599Z","model":{"id":"0e3700b0-9892-486e-85e5-a19da5e4686e","companyId":"3277dae7-9a4c-455a-836b-3c5f9c3c765b","modelName":"MQ-9 Reaper","slug":"general-atomics-parent-mq-9-reaper","description":"The MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B) is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) for the U.S. Air Force and allied nations. With over 27 hours endurance, speeds of 240 KTAS, operating altitude up to 50,000 feet, and a 3,850 lb payload capacity, the MQ-9 is the first hunter-killer UAV designed for long-endurance surveillance and strike missions. 575 units built as of 2026.","formFactor":"aerial","industryVertical":null,"environment":"airspace","maturityStage":"production","lifecycleState":"superseded","supersededByModelId":"363e1892-0df2-4d0e-aae9-fd19e835d78f","specs":{"payload_kg":"1700","wingspan_m":"20","endurance_hr":"27","max_altitude_ft":"50000"},"manufacturerSerial":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-piloted-aircraft/mq-9b","label":"GA-ASI MQ-9B SkyGuardian product page","title":"GA-ASI MQ-9B SkyGuardian product page","mediaType":"article"},{"url":"https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-piloted-aircraft/mq-9a","label":"MQ-9A Reaper (Predator B)","title":"MQ-9A Reaper (Predator B)","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"GA-ASI (official)"},{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper","label":"General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper","title":"General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Wikipedia"}],"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"manufacturerTermForTeleop":null,"keyFacts":[{"label":"Wingspan","value":"20 m"},{"label":"Endurance","value":"27 hours"},{"label":"Payload","value":"1700 kg"},{"label":"Max altitude","value":"50000 ft"}],"createdAt":"2026-06-27T21:36:00.189Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-14T23:23:25.983Z","unitsInFieldClaimed":null,"unitsInFieldVerified":null,"unitsManufacturedClaimed":null,"unitsManufacturedVerified":null,"unitsAsOf":null,"unitsSource":null,"salesModel":null,"priceUndisclosedSince":null,"autonomyClass":null,"autonomyStatement":null,"autonomyStatementSource":null,"demoForensics":null,"exportControlClass":null,"minCommitment":null,"warrantyTerms":null,"serviceModel":null,"productionRateClaimed":null,"productionRateEvidenced":null,"teleopRatioDisclosed":null,"interventionRateDisclosed":null},"deployment":null,"company":null,"derived":{"status":"active"},"sources":[{"id":"ce82cf5b-432c-4b8e-ab48-d28a33a75822","incidentId":"9e5f2c7c-4278-4ca5-8a69-48dffb60482f","url":"https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2025/08/14/lost-propeller-caused-13m-military-reaper-drone-to-crash-into-sea/","label":"Broken propeller caused $13M military Reaper drone to crash into sea","publishedAt":"2025-08-14T00:00:00.000Z","notes":null,"title":"Broken propeller caused $13M military Reaper drone to crash into sea","sourceName":"Air Force Times","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-07-14T23:23:29.288Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-14T23:23:29.288Z"}],"responses":[],"statusEvents":[],"jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/mq-9-reaper-propeller-crash-mediterranean-2024","url":"https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/mq-9-reaper-propeller-crash-mediterranean-2024","headline":"MQ-9 Reaper crashed into Mediterranean Sea after propeller decoupled mid-flight","description":"An MQ-9A Reaper worth $13 million crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on December 16, 2024, after its propeller decoupled from the engine due to failure of a spiral lock ring inside the gearbox. The aircraft was operated by the 20th Attack Squadron from Whiteman AFB, taking off from a U.S. European Command location. The crew declared an emergency and ditched the aircraft in the water. The drone was unrecoverable.","identifier":"9e5f2c7c-4278-4ca5-8a69-48dffb60482f","datePublished":"2024-12-16T00:00:00.000Z","articleSection":"malfunction","publisher":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"},"author":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"}},"framework_metadata":{"framework_schema_version":"0.1.0","verification_status":"verified","maturity_stage":null,"lifecycle_state":null,"architectural_position":{"cohort":null,"sub_cohorts":[]},"within_cohort_verified_vs_claimed_pair":null,"cap_flags":[],"verification_depth":{"sources_count":1,"primary_source_types":[]}}}