Historic Swiss solar-powered plane crashes into sea

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Washington DC: The historic Solar Impulse 2, the first aircraft to circumnavigate the globe without fuel, crashed into the Gulf of Mexico on May 4 during a military testing mission. The vessel, which gained fame for its 2016 record-breaking journey, had been converted into an autonomous drone by its new owner, Skydweller Aero.

The aircraft took off from Stennis, Mississippi, on April 26 to participate in a US Navy exercise. Before the "controlled ditching" occurred, the drone achieved a flight lasting 8 days and 14 minutes, which the company claims validates the potential for perpetual solar-powered flight in military environments.

Originally piloted by Swiss explorers Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, the plane traveled 26,700 miles across four continents during its historic world tour. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the incident.