"Heron" drone (symbolic picture): One of the three reconnaissance drones in northern Afghanistan was destroyed due to technical problems
Photo: Rheinmetall / picture alliance / dpa
Due to technical problems, one of the three "Heron" reconnaissance drones was destroyed on Monday morning in northern Afghanistan.
According to initial investigations by the Bundeswehr, the engine of an Israeli manufacturer's drone failed a good 20 minutes before the planned landing in the German camp in Mazar-i-Sharif.
The plane then landed east of the camp in difficult to access terrain.
The Bundeswehr could not save the surveillance drone.
Although soldiers still expanded the sensitive reconnaissance technology at the crash site, the damaged drone was blown up.
The »Heron« had previously completed an 18-hour reconnaissance flight.
The drones have been in use in Afghanistan for 10 years.
The General Aviation Safety of the Bundeswehr is now supposed to research the cause of the crash.
The Bundeswehr only leased the "Heron" drones in Afghanistan.
The Israeli drone is considered very reliable worldwide.
In Afghanistan the "Heron" pilots have already completed tens of thousands of flight hours.
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