Defense Japan Air Self-Defense Force confirms Global Hawk drone crash

Investigation team dispatched to help identify cause of accident

A Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance drone is displayed at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Misawa Air Base on Sept. 8, 2024. (Photo by Konosuke Urata)

TOKYO -- The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) confirmed Wednesday that its Global Hawk RQ-4B unmanned surveillance drone crashed following loss of ground contact, after photographs of floating debris discovered off the coast of western Japan's Tottori prefecture were identified as belonging to the aircraft.