The unmanned US drone crashed and fell in the Machikhel area of Mira Ali Tehsil, North Wazirstan due to what officials believe was a "technical failure”, though they could not offer a reason with complete authority.
"A drone aircraft was seen going down in Machikhel and flames were seen," an intelligence official said.
However, locals told The Express Tribune that after the drone crashed, its debris caught fire.
It was still unclear what type of a drone it was.
The Express Tribune is presently trying to acquire more details on the crash.
Reuters adds
Taliban militants led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur said they had collected wreckage of the destroyed drone and would provide its pictures to the media on Sunday.
"The drone today in Machikhel was flying at low altitude and our fighters fired at and shot it down," a local commander of the Taliban said. "We have trained people for such type of job."
It is impossible to verify the militants' account, security officials said.
At least two US drones had crashed in Pakistani territory in 2011. One small drone had crashed near Chaman, while a second had crashed in South Waziristan.
US denies drone was shot down
A US official, on condition of anonymity, has told The Express Tribune that reports of a drone being shot down in North Waziristan are untrue.
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How right you are, my brother in Islam. This is a frank opinion.
Yes my brother, our servile politicians sell their blood to the Americans for the worth of gutter water for whatever it is worth. They go further, by telling the Americans and Europeans that the common citizens' blood is not blood but gutter water, so you can get more for the price of one worthless unit of exchange.
Our leaders are invertebrate politicians and it is fearful that the PTI and MQM will also take their lead and behave similarly.
Salams to Pakistan
@Pakistani: US or China ?
@Pakistani: well said our army is left to collect the debris
So Taliban did what army could not do... Shame on Pakistan. and Good job Taliban
Maybe they are used so much they got worn out? or maybe all the hot air in Islamabad created too much turbulence for it's automated guidance system?
Quick, sell the wreckage to the Chinese!!!
“We have trained people for such type of job.” haha lolz...These people dont know the difference between truth and lies...
American Military: Our toy plane went down, but do not worry we will send other relatively soon.
Inside info: It was downed. Hence the "ball of fire".
"A US official, on condition of anonymity, has told The Express Tribune that reports of a drone being shot down in North Waziristan are untrue."- lol, so US officials won't talk to the government but they'll talk to ET? C'mon, we all know it's just that last anonymity thing you just add to every story...
@Pakistani, you spot-on but I would add, 50 percent of the rubble will be delivered to U.S and rest to all weather friend (China for chicken soup).. ha ha
Now its our Army job started to collect the rubble of drone and safely hand it over to U.S.
“The drone today in Machikhel was flying at low altitude and our fighters fired at and shot it down,” a local commander of the Taliban said. “We have trained people for such type of job.”
yeah right!
Iran hacked and captured an advanced US drone, has no diplomatic relations with US and infact threatens US every second day and still Americans too scared to attack Iran. Afghanistan is a dirt poor, war ravaged, US occupied state, yet the Leader of the First World and most powerful nation (atleast uptill now) quickly scrambled to apologised to Afghans within 3 days of the Holy Book's desecration, Meanwhile we Pakistanis so called allies of the US, not only do we bear the brunt of drone attacks every 3 days, we cooperate with the US for 10 years, but after 24 soldiers killed in NATO attack and they still haven't apologised 3 months on. Apparently Pakistanis blood is even cheaper than Afghan and Taliban blood. These liberals keep 'advising' us common Pakistan's to not be so hostile to US and call Difa Pakistan crazy, but maybe it's time we take a leaf or two out of Iran and Afghanistan's rulebook..
Congratulations Pakistan, someone innocent wasn't killed by this machine today