14 DAY TRIAL // A drone crash has prompted the closing of a highway in Florida. The unmanned aircraft went down at Tyndall Air Force Base and it could be carrying explosives.
US 98 at Tyndall was blocked off when the drone “exploded and sent up a large black cloud,” WJHG reported.
The crash was witnessed at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday in the Silver Flag area. The QF 4 blew up upon takeoff and sent black smoke flying in the area.
No injuries have been reported after the incident, but officials have informed that the status of the drone is still "unknown."
The QF-4 will be running out of battery, which only lasts for about 24 hours. Highway 98 will also stay closed down for 24 hours.
After that amount of time, the aircraft can blow up. It is equipped with an explosive device which activates itself within 24 hours of the fall.
“The (drone) was carrying a small self destruct charge, which is normally used to destroy the drone if it ventures off course.
“Because of the fire and smoke surround the plane (drone) we do not know if the charge has detonated or is still live. Until the fire goes out and we can ascertain the status of the device we cannot send in out first responders,” Mission Support Commander William Grund said after 12:30 p.m.
According to the News Herald, it has been programmed to self-destruct after impact, so that other people are not injured if it incurs other damage.
The explosive charge on another Air Force QF-4 was deployed over the Gulf of Mexico on July 10.
“An unmanned Air Force QF-4 drone assigned to the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group was destroyed over the Gulf of Mexico at 10:28 local time today.
“The drone was carrying a small self-destruct charge and had to be destroyed for safety considerations during its return to base following a routine operation,” a press statement from Tyndall Air Force Base reads, according to AL.com.