Emergency services are investigating after reports of a Home Office surveillance drone on fire beside the M20 near Folkestone this afternoon.
The incident is believed to have occurred on the coastbound carriageway between Junction 13 (Folkestone) and Junction 12 (Cheriton).
Drone Registration Reported
Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke and wreckage at the roadside, with some suggesting the registration number “G-TEKE” could be seen on the drone or equipment.
It is not yet clear whether the device crashed during flight or was being transported by road when the fire started.
Firefighters attended the westbound carriageway between Junction 13 (Folkestone) and Junction 12 (Cheriton) shortly after 2pm.
Drone Found on Hard Shoulder
Photos taken at the scene show an upturned aircraft with Home Office branding, with smoke rising from the fuselage as firefighters worked nearby.
Dashcam footage also shows smoke drifting across the motorway, with one fire engine and crew in attendance.
Initially, National Highways described the incident as a vehicle fire. However, closer images show the drone bearing the registration G-TEKE.
Tekever AR5 Drone
Flight records suggest the aircraft is a Tekever AR5 Evolution MK2, a long-endurance drone designed for maritime surveillance missions.
According to manufacturer specifications, the AR5 can fly for more than 20 hours, carrying maritime radars and day/night cameras.
In 2023, the Home Office signed a three-year contract with Tekever to deploy AR5 drones over the English Channel as part of its Small Boats Operational Command, which tracks migrant crossings.
Cause Unknown
It is not yet clear whether the drone crashed in flight or fell from a transport vehicle. By 3pm, traffic had cleared and both motorway lanes had reopened.
The Home Office and Kent Fire and Rescue Service have been approached for comment.
Kent fire and rescue said: we were called to reports of a fire on the M20 between junctions 12 and 13, near Folkestone.
Two fire engines attended, and crews discovered that a small remote-controlled aircraft, being transported in a vehicle, had caught alight.
Firefighters used hose reel jets to extinguish the flames. No injuries were reported.
