MAYPORT, Florida — A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone has been photographed beyond the paved surface of Runway 5 at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, near the St. Johns River. The circumstances of the incident remain unclear, and the U.S. Navy has not issued a public statement.
The open-source intelligence account TheIntelFrog shared the image on X on October 3, showing the unmanned aircraft beyond the runway. The account joked that the drone had “got stuck trying to take a drink” from the river.
The exact date and time of the incident, whether the aircraft was taking off or landing, the cause of the event and the extent of any damage remain unknown. As the MQ-4C operates without an onboard crew, no personnel were aboard the aircraft.
MQ-4C Triton Specifications and Capabilities
Manufactured by Northrop Grumman, the MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance maritime surveillance aircraft developed from the U.S. Air Force's RQ-4 Global Hawk. It is equipped with maritime radar, electro-optical and infrared cameras, and electronic support measures. Structural strengthening, de-icing capabilities and lightning protection support operations in demanding maritime weather conditions.
The aircraft operates alongside the Navy's crewed P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft as part of the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force.
Its key specifications include:
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Wingspan: Approximately 130.9 feet
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Length: Approximately 47.6 feet
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Maximum takeoff weight: About 32,250 pounds
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Endurance: More than 24 hours
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Operating altitude: Above 50,000 feet
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Range: Approximately 7,400 nautical miles
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Engine: One Rolls-Royce AE3007H turbofan
Mayport's Role in Triton Operations
The Navy selected Naval Station Mayport as an operating location for the Triton fleet and its maintenance personnel in 2017. The first aircraft assigned to the base arrived in December 2021 after a deployment that included operations from Guam.
Mission crews and sensor operators control the aircraft remotely from Naval Air Station Jacksonville under the Navy's remote-split operations concept.
The aircraft are operated by Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19), known as “Big Red,” the Navy's first squadron dedicated entirely to unmanned aviation. The squadron has also operated Tritons from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy.
Mayport-based Tritons have conducted surveillance missions in the Caribbean. Public flight-tracking data previously reported by The Defence Blog showed one aircraft completing an approximately nine-hour flight over the Caribbean, north of Venezuela, after departing Mayport in January.
Previous Triton Incidents
The MQ-4C programme has experienced earlier operational setbacks. In September 2018, a Triton undergoing operational testing at Naval Base Ventura County, California, experienced an in-flight problem. Its engine was shut down, and the landing gear failed to extend, resulting in a belly landing on the runway. No personnel were injured, and VUP-19 temporarily suspended operations during the investigation.
Further reported serious mishaps occurred in December 2025 during maintenance and in April 2026.
As of October 3, 2026, the Navy has not released further details about the Mayport incident, including the cause, damage assessment or recovery efforts. It remains unclear when the aircraft will be inspected or whether it can return to service.
Main Source : Defence-blog
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