Solar Impulse 2, the airplane that circumnavigated the world using solar energy, crashed in the Gulf of Mexico.

The revolutionary aircraft Solar Impulse 2, known for its historic journey around the world in 2016, crashed into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The current owner, Skydweller Aero, announced that the aircraft, converted into a drone, suffered an accident due to unfavorable weather conditions. Solar Impulse 2 completed a journey of 43,041 kilometers, flying on solar energy without fuel, and in 2019 it was sold to be adapted for military missions.

After a takeoff from Stennis, Mississippi, on April 26, the aircraft was controlled abandoned on May 4, during a U.S. Navy exercise, setting a record of 8 days and 14 minutes of continuous flight. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the accident and opened an investigation.

The Solar Impulse team expressed sadness for the loss of the technological symbol, emphasizing that the aircraft was no longer in its original condition.