Photo: Swiss Air Force
The crash occurred at 9.20 am on Tuesday morning. Due to an engine problem on takeoff, the aircraft failed to gain height, according to Jürg Nussbaum, chief of Air Force communications. As a result, when the aircraft was over safe ground the parachute was activated. However, as the aircraft was too low, it wasn’t able to unfold completely. It crashed onto the tarmac of the military airfield of Emmen and suffered a total write-off. No one was injured.
According to the Air Force, the crash was due to a technical defect.
Ranger in Happier Times Over Lucerne
The downed aircraft was described as an ADS 95, otherwise known as a RUAG Ranger. It is 4.61 meters long and has a wingspan of 5.70 meters. In 1995, the Swiss Air Force had procured the unmanned reconnaissance system (ADS), which included 28 unmanned aircraft, for 450 million Swiss Francs ($510 M).
Today 23 aircraft are still in service. The current value of a single aircraft and the crash damage cannot be quantified precisely, said Jürg Nussbaum. However it has been estimated in the region of several 100,000 Swiss Francs.
Source: Luzerner Zeitung