Armed Drone Explodes at Haiti SWAT Base, Killing 2 Officers and Exposing UAV Protocol Gaps

Two Haitian police officers were killed and six others injured after an attack drone deployed in Haiti’s anti-gang campaign detonated at a police base in Port-au-Prince, raising urgent questions about how government-run and contractor-led drone strike operations are coordinated and secured, reports the New York Times.

Fatal Blast During Drone Disarmament at SWAT Facility

Officials said the incident unfolded Tuesday when an armed drone launched by a government task force failed to detonate and came down in an empty field. Local residents retrieved the aircraft and brought it to a police SWAT base in the Kenscoff area of Port-au-Prince, where team members began trying to disarm the ordnance. The device exploded, killing two officers and injuring six others; two survivors were seriously wounded, according to authorities and Haiti’s presidential council member Fritz Alphonse Jean on X.

“At the presidential level, we ask all our brave police officers to remain calm, keep our morale high and continue the fight to liberate our country,” Fritz Alphonse Jean wrote, after visiting the wounded officers in the hospital. “We will take all measures to shed light on this drama and provide good support to get through this difficult time.”

Covert Drone Task Force, Contractors, and Coordination Issues

Since March, the Haitian government has employed a drone task force run by American private military contractor Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater Worldwide, to target gang members. The task force has faced criticism for operating with limited transparency and for insufficient coordination with the Haitian National Police. A person familiar with the task force’s operations said the police were alerted that the drone had fallen and were advised not to approach it, adding that initial findings point to a procedural failure in how the unexploded device was handled. The task force said it will review protocols to prevent a repeat.

Targets, Civilian Harm, and Evolving Tactics

Drone strikes have focused on “Viv Ansanm,” a gang coalition that has terrorized Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas for years. More than 5,000 people were killed last year amid broader violence, and roughly 1.3 million residents—over 10% of the country—have been displaced. The strikes have reportedly injured some figures within the gangs, though none of the top leaders have been confirmed killed.

According to the UN’s human rights office (BINUH), explosive drones killed at least 236 people and injured 223 others between April and June 2025, accounting for nearly 36% of casualties in security force operations. BINUH also noted that by June, drones appeared to be used in a “more integrated manner” with specialized police ground units, while still operating outside the police hierarchy. On June 21, two women who were not targets were killed in Martissant during a pursuit when suspects took refuge near a private residence.

Government Signals Continuity, Cites Recent Coordination Gains

A senior Haitian official called the base explosion “regrettable” but said it would not slow operations against Viv Ansanm. Officials also said coordination with the drone task force had improved in recent days under new police chief Vladimir Paraison, who previously worked with the unit.

“The State solemnly reaffirms that no sacrifice will be in vain,” Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé said in a statement late Tuesday. “All necessary measures will be taken to protect our police officers, strengthen national security, and unequivocally assert the State’s authority in the face of threats to our people.”

DroneXL’s Take

This development raises questions about armed UAV employment in dense urban environments, particularly chain-of-custody and unexploded ordnance (UXO) protocols. The fatal outcome underscores a core principle: downed, armed drones should not be handled or transported by civilians or non-EOD personnel. For operators and agencies, the lesson is clear—tighten UXO perimeters, standardize notification and handoff procedures, and ensure joint training between contractors and police units.

Open questions remain: Who maintains operational control and accountability when contractor-led drones malfunction? How quickly can doctrine and training adapt to reduce risk to officers and bystanders? Share perspectives and field-tested SOPs in the comments to help the community surface practical safeguards.

Photos courtesy of X.