US Predator drone crashes near Turkish air base

Ankara: US military officials have confirmed Turkish media reports that an American Predator drone has crashed in a field near Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey.

US Air Forces Europe spokeswoman Capt Lauren Ott said the remotely piloted aircraft crashed early Wednesday. No one was hurt in the incident. There was no word on what caused the crash and Ott wouldn’t comment on the drone’s mission.

Incirlik, near the border with Syria, is home to US fighter jets and other aircraft belonging to the anti-Islamic state coalition. Witness Mehmet Bayram told the state-run Anadolu Agency that he saw an object with flashing lights crash into the field before hearing a large explosion. He said police arrived on the scene, followed by American officials who conducted inspections.

PTI