(MENAFN) According to reports, a US reconnaissance drone based in South Korea crashed into the Yellow Sea early Monday, with the cause of the incident still undetermined. As stated by reports citing US Forces Korea (USFK), the MQ-9 Reaper was conducting a standard operation when the mishap occurred.

The aircraft, which was being flown by the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron out of Kunsan Air Base, went down near the waters surrounding Maldo-ri Island close to Okdo-myeon in Gunsan, North Jeolla, according to information attributed to an unnamed USFK representative. The spokesperson noted that no one was injured and no civilian property was affected, adding that a formal investigation has begun.

The crash follows USFK’s announcement two months earlier confirming that Reaper drones had been permanently stationed on the Korean Peninsula as of September. The incident also comes amid several recent aviation issues involving US and South Korean forces. In June, South Korea briefly suspended operations of its KF-16 fighter jets after one aircraft sustained damage during joint training in Alaska. Reports also highlighted that last month, both a US Navy fighter jet and a helicopter separately went down in the South China Sea.

More than 28,500 US troops remain stationed in South Korea under the bilateral defense treaty between Washington and Seoul.

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