A spokesperson with Holloman Air Force Base has confirmed that they are at the scene of a downed aircraft seven miles of Hwy 70 that happened before noon on Thursday.
The unmanned MQ-9 Reaper crashed around 11:30 a.m. south of Hwy 70. U.S. Air Force first responders are on the scene trying to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators are requesting that the public cooperate with all military and civilian personnel at the scene.
The MQ-9 Reaper is unmanned and remotely controlled. It is a larger, heavier aircraft than the earlier MQ-1 Predator and can be controlled by the same ground systems. In addition to being used by the U.S. Air Force, the Reaper is also used by U.S. Customs and Border Protections for remote surveillance of the Border.
Additional information we be released at the conclusion of the USAF investigation.
Source: El Paso Proud