Navy ‘control-ditches’ spy drone into sea

Kochi, March 18: The Indian Navy confirmed that it control-ditched a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) off the Kochi coast.

A Navy spokesperson, based out of Southern Naval Command (SNC) in Kochi said that the RPA had an engine failure.

He said to prevent collateral damages to human lives and other properties, the Navy had to execute the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) of control-ditching the platform into the sea.

The officials said that following the search efforts soon after the crash, the Navy could recover parts of the aircraft including engine and other components.

"A board of inquiry is being ordered to find out what went wrong," the official said.

Indian Navy's Flying Sentinels (INAS 342) operates out of SNC Kochi. The squadron operates both Heron and Searcher-II drones.

OneIndia News