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James48

(5,230 posts)
Thu Apr 9, 2026, 05:37 PM 5 hrs ago

Navy MQ-4C Triton's Fate Unknown After Disappearing From Flight Tracking Over Persian Gulf

Source: TWZ

(This is a new $238 million dollar drone)

U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone disappeared abruptly and unexpectedly from online flight tracking sites after declaring an in-flight emergency while flying over the Persian Gulf today. The uncrewed aircraft was also tracked rapidly losing altitude right beforehand, prompting widespread questions about its fate. This comes just two days after the United States and Iran agreed to a still very fragile ceasefire, which is heavily contingent on the reopening of the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Online flight tracking data shows the MQ-4C had just completed a roughly three-hour-long flight over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and appeared to be returning to base at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. The online tracking shows the Triton had just crossed into Saudi Arabian airspace before making a sudden turn to the northeast in the direction of Iran. Available data also shows the drone rapidly descended from a typical cruising altitude of around 50,000 feet down to below 10,000 feet.

U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone disappeared abruptly and unexpectedly from online flight tracking sites after declaring an in-flight emergency while flying over the Persian Gulf today. The uncrewed aircraft was also tracked rapidly losing altitude right beforehand, prompting widespread questions about its fate. This comes just two days after the United States and Iran agreed to a still very fragile ceasefire, which is heavily contingent on the reopening of the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Online flight tracking data shows the MQ-4C had just completed a roughly three-hour-long flight over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and appeared to be returning to base at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. The online tracking shows the Triton had just crossed into Saudi Arabian airspace before making a sudden turn to the northeast in the direction of Iran. Available data also shows the drone rapidly descended from a typical cruising altitude of around 50,000 feet down to below 10,000 feet.



Read more: https://www.twz.com/air/navy-mq-4c-tritons-fate-unknown-after-disappearing-from-flight-tracking-over-persian-gulf



Well, there goes another quarter billion dollars - in one go.
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Navy MQ-4C Triton's Fate Unknown After Disappearing From Flight Tracking Over Persian Gulf (Original Post) James48 5 hrs ago OP
What's the odds that Iran now has control of the aircraft Lifeafter70 4 hrs ago #1
Cost Maninacan 4 hrs ago #2
Sounds like Iran hijacked the drone and either Prairie Gates 4 hrs ago #3
Yep Lifeafter70 3 hrs ago #4

Lifeafter70

(1,011 posts)
1. What's the odds that Iran now has control of the aircraft
Thu Apr 9, 2026, 05:59 PM
4 hrs ago

Further down in the article it states the aircraft had lost contact with its ground control operators.

Prairie Gates

(8,247 posts)
3. Sounds like Iran hijacked the drone and either
Thu Apr 9, 2026, 06:14 PM
4 hrs ago

1) they have control of it OR
2) the US had to blow it up to prevent 1

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