Indian Navy’s Heron Drone Crashes Due To Engine Failure

Indian Navy’s Heron unmanned aerial vehicle has crashed off the coast of Kerala Friday after suffering an engine failure.

The UAV was on a routine mission when the incident happened, the Navy said.

"The UAV was guided to a safe area and ditched over sea," a Navy officer was quoted as saying by NDTV.

“A court of inquiry has been ordered,” he added.

The Navy said a search was launched immediately and parts of the aircraft, including the engine, have been recovered.

The UAVs, positioned in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kochi, are used for surveillance of the coast and exclusive economic zone.

A Heron UAV can be airborne has 18 hours. The Navy has about 10 such UAVs.