US Navy confirms MQ-4C drone crash in Persian Gulf

The U.S. Naval Safety Command has confirmed the crash of an MQ-4C Triton high-altitude surveillance drone into the Persian Gulf on April 9, 2026. The aircraft, with tail number 169804, suffered a sudden, catastrophic failure and was lost. The Navy has not specified the cause of the incident, which occurred amid heightened tensions in the region. An investigation into the crash is ongoing.