PAF grounds remaining unmanned aerial vehicles after CDO crash

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has grounded the rest of its Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) after a unit crash-landed in Cagayan de Oro on Saturday, its spokesperson Colonel Meynard Mariano said Monday.

“Yes, grounded for the purpose of inspection and investigation,” Mariano told GMA News Online in a message.

The UAV crashed into a vegetated area east of Lumbia Airport where it was confirmed to have lost contact, the PAF reported.

It took off from the airport at 9:30 a.m. for a functional check flight, then ascended to 10,000 feet as it proceeded to 5NM east of Lumbia, it added.

Pilots found the functional check flight satisfactory and made the UAV descend 5,000 feet at 1.5 miles east of Lumbia Airport.

No civilian casualties and damage to properties were reported due to the incident, the PAF said.—AOL, GMA News