Fishing Charter Reeling In Lost US Air Force Drone Off Florida Coast

A charter fishing group operating in Pensacola, Florida, reeled in an intact U.S.

Charter Boat Captures Missing Air Force Drone

The unusual maritime catch occurred during a six-hour excursion led by Hot Spots Charters out of Pensacola, according to information posted by the company on social media and cited by USA TODAY. Charter captain Daniel Arsenault noted the unusual encounter online, writing that the group had pulled up a large military device.

Great 6 hour today with this crew! If anyone is looking for their drone please call Hot Spots! Captain Daniel Arsenault wrote on social media, as reported by USA TODAY. Air Force’s 96th Test Wing. A spokesperson for the defense publication The War Zone confirmed to USA TODAY that an aircraft from the base had indeed gone missing during a recent test, though the spokesperson did not initially specify the exact model of the drone.

Specifications of the Recovered FLM-136 Drone

According to reporting from USA TODAY, the recovered device is believed to be an FLM-136, which is described as a clone of an Iranian-designed uncrewed system. The hardware measures 9.8 feet in length with an 8.2-foot wingspan and tips the scales at 70 pounds. The recovery highlights the intersection of commercial maritime operations and military testing ranges off the Florida coast. A subsequent post from Hot Spots Charters stated, The black suvs came and got their drone, all is good! according to USA TODAY.