DJIBOUTI — A US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed on Sunday near Chabelley airfield in Djibouti, according to reports and official statements.
The US Embassy in Djibouti first noted the situation earlier in the day. It said it was tracking an aircraft in distress in Djiboutian airspace and advised the public to avoid the area around Chabelley airbase until further notice.
Later, the embassy confirmed an incident involving a US military aircraft in the vicinity of Chabelley Airfield. It stated that the matter is under investigation. Initial reports showed no casualties and no property damage on the ground. US personnel are coordinating with Djiboutian authorities. Media inquiries were directed to United States Africa Command.
A US military official confirmed the aircraft was an MQ-9 and said it was not shot down. Local reports and open-source accounts identified the drone as operating from the US facility at Chabelley, which hosts MQ-9 aircraft used for regional missions. The crash occurred near the airfield, with some accounts placing it near a local cemetery area. No injuries or ground damage were reported.
Chabelley airfield supports US Air Force operations in the region. The incident is under investigation, and further details on the cause have not been released by US or Djiboutian authorities at this time.
Iranian media outlets reported the crash and referenced the embassy’s earlier advisory. Some of those reports suggested other factors, but US officials have stated the drone was not shot down.
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