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<p>There have been four incidents involving the loss of a Watchkeeper Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV).</p><p>On 16 October 2014, Watchkeeper UAV WK031, operated by a civilian
crew from Thales, was involved in an accident while making a landing approach to West
Wales Airport, Aberporth, during deteriorating weather conditions. A second accident
involving Watchkeeper WK006, operated by a military crew, occurred on landing at Boscombe
Down on 2 November 2015.</p><p>The Service Inquiry reports on these incidents contained
a number of recommendations and actions have been taken, or are in hand, for all of
these. The Service Inquiry panel also looked at the similarities between these incidents
and concluded that, although some of the causal factors were different, the same flaw
in the vehicle management system contributed to both accidents. The Equipment Standard
2 modification, which is currently being released, will update this. However, procedural
mitigations have already been put in place to reduce the likelihood of re-occurrence.</p><p>Two
Watchkeeper UAVs were involved in separate incidents on 3 February and 24 March 2017
in segregated airspace over Cardigan Bay in West Wales. On both occasions, the UAVs
ditched in the sea. The Service Inquiries into the incidents are ongoing and the cause
is not yet known. It would be inappropriate to comment further until the Service Inquiry
reports are released.</p>
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