An Israeli-origin unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated by the Southern Naval Command in Kochi crashed on Tuesday.
The UAV, which was on a routine surveillance sortie, crashed around 10.25 a.m. shortly after take off. “The remotely piloted arcraft failed to attain the expected height and came crashing down,” said an official statement.
It also said the aircraft crashed in the vicinity of the HHA tank terminal on the northern side of Willingdon Island. However, there was no casualty or damage to property.
A Board of Inquiry is being constituted to investigate the cause of accident, it said. The crashed aircraft was part of the naval air squadron INS Garuda, which comprises the Israeli aircraft herons and searchers.
The crash took place just ahead of the arrival of Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu in Kochi, who is on a two-day visit to Kerala.
