The Solar Impulse 2, the famed solar-powered aircraft that completed a historic circumnavigation of the globe in 2016, has been destroyed. According to a National Transportation Safety Board report, the aircraft crashed into the Gulf of Mexico on May 4 during an autonomous test flight.
Following its record-setting journey, the aircraft was acquired by Skydweller Aero in 2019. The company had been working to convert the platform into a high-endurance, uncrewed system designed for persistent surveillance missions, utilizing radar and telecommunications equipment. The aircraft had previously completed a successful autonomous flight at Stennis International Airport in Mississippi in 2024.
There were no injuries reported in the incident. While the aircraft had been modified for its new role, the loss marks a conclusion for a flagship piece of experimental aviation history. Founders Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg expressed disappointment regarding the loss of the platform. Reports indicate that under the terms of the original acquisition contract, the aircraft was eventually slated to be returned to Switzerland for permanent display at the Swiss Museum of Transport.