BAGHDAD, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. unmanned aerial plane crashed on Wednesday in north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.

　　An Air Force MQ-1 Predator apparently crashed due to a mechanical failure in northwest of the town of Balad, 80 km north of Baghdad, a military statement said.

　　The aircraft was launched from the Ali Base near the city of Nasiriyah, some 375 km south of Baghdad, with the primary mission of conducting armed reconnaissance, the statement said.

　　"A board will be convened to investigate the accident," the statement added.