U.S. Navy Drone Vanishes Over Strait of Hormuz After Emergency

A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone vanished over the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after declaring an inflight emergency during its return from a routine patrol in the Persian Gulf, prompting speculation about a possible crash, technical malfunction or hostile action amid fragile regional cease-fire talks.

The unmanned aircraft, valued at more than $200 million, had completed approximately three hours of maritime surveillance over the Persian Gulf and the strait before the incident. Flight tracking data indicated it was en route to Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy when it broadcast code 7400, signaling a loss of communications link with ground operators, followed by code 7700 for a general emergency. The drone then made a slight turn toward Iranian airspace and began a rapid descent from its cruising altitude of about 50,000 feet to below 10,000 feet over roughly 15 minutes. It disappeared from tracking systems shortly thereafter, with no further contact reported.

The MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance platform designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions over vast ocean areas. Capable of flying above 50,000 feet for more than 24...