Solar Impulse aircraft destroyed after power loss crash in Gulf of Mexico

The solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse 2 has been completely destroyed after crashing into the Gulf of Mexico following a loss of power, according to a preliminary report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The aircraft reportedly took off from Stennis International Airport in Mississippi on 4 May and later went down in international waters near St. Louis Bay. No one was on board at the time of the accident, and no injuries were reported.

The NTSB has launched an investigation and will issue a final report once its analysis is complete.

The aircraft was originally developed and flown as part of the pioneering solar aviation project led by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, funded by Belgian main sponsor Solvay. It gained global attention in 2015–2016 when it completed a historic around-the-world journey using only solar energy, covering approximately 42,000 km in 17 stages without fuel.

During that record flight, the single-seat aircraft used around 17,000 photovoltaic cells and lightweight batteries to sustain long-duration flights at low speeds, demonstrating the potential of renewable aviation technology.

The crashed aircraft had reportedly been sold in 2019 and was later being tested by a Spanish-American company and the U.S. Navy before the accident occurred.