U.S. Military Drone Crashes Near Elementary School in Pennsylvania

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Soldiers prepare to launch an RQ-7B unmanned aerial vehicle (not the particular one described in this story) at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Iraq on April 6, 2011.

Image: U.S. Military Spc. Sara Wakai

By Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai2014-04-04 20:59:53 UTC

A 375-pound U.S. military drone crashed near a Pennsylvania elementary school on Thursday afternoon.

After losing power in flight, the drone experienced a "hard landing" near the Lickdale Elementary School outside of Harrisburg, Pa. — and was then run over by a car, according to local news reports.

See also: After 5 Rejections, Apple Accepts App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes

The drone, a RQ-7 Shadow, is 11 feet long and has a wingspan of 14 feet. It reportedly costs $150,000, and was completely damaged in the collision — a "total loss." No one was injured and no other serious damage was reported.

The cause of the incident is still unclear, but Maj. Ed Shank, a spokesman for Fort Indiantown Gap, a U.S. Army post just a few miles from the elementary school, said it is under investigation. The Pennsylvania Army National Guard regularly conducts training operations with RQ-7 drones out of Fort Indiantown.

Residents quoted by a local ABC station were surprised by the crash, but said they often hear drones fly over.

"I have listened to it for the past couple of years and I was a little unsteady with it going over my house because look what happens," said Lisa Cooper, who lives right down the street from the scene of the crash.

Aerial view of the area where the drone crashed.

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Topics: Drones, military, U.S., US & World