U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Crashes in Djibouti

A U.S. MQ-9 Reaper multi-mission unmanned aircraft crashed in Djibouti.

The U.S. Embassy in Djibouti reported the incident.

According to the embassy, the drone crashed near Chabelley Airfield, where U.S. MQ-9 Reapers and P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft are based.

The cause of the crash has not been disclosed. Video from the scene has emerged online showing the MQ-9 completely destroyed.

The U.S. Air Force has operated Chabelley Airfield since 2013 as a temporary site for drone deployments.

The airfield was established after relevant operations were moved from Camp Lemonnier, an important hub for U.S. counterterrorism operations in Yemen and Somalia.

The relocation followed appeals from local government officials who expressed concern over frequent accidents near the previous base.

Before that, the Chabelley runway was used exclusively as a contingency site for French military forces.

According to available data, as of May, the United States had lost about 30 MQ-9 Reapers during the war with Iran.

In addition, dozens more of the drones have been shot down by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen in recent years or crashed because of technical failures around the world.

During a congressional hearing on May 13, U.S. Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs Lt. Gen. David Tabor said the number of MQ-9 Reapers in service had fallen to 135.

By comparison, at the beginning of fiscal 2026, the U.S. military had 165 MQ-9 Reapers, while its fleet numbered 231 drones in 2025.