A Google prototype solar-powered drone has crashed during its test flight in New Mexico.
The company had planned to use to the drone to provide internet services to remote areas of the world.
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Titan Aerospace, which was acquired by Google last year, built the Solara 50 drone, which took-off from a test field in Albuquerque.
The US National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are working together to identify the cause of the accident.
Titan Aerospace said that the drone was designed to operate for five years, and was supposed to fly at very high latitudes to beam internet signals to Earth.
Solara 50 drones feature a 50m wingspan, solar cells on the upper surface of the wing, and batteries that store electricity. They have a thin fuselage and long, curving wings allowing them to fly as high as 65,000ft; however, Google plans to launch a drone version to carry heavier payloads to deploy for internet services.
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By GlobalDataGoogle spokeswoman Courtney Hohne was quoted by Bloomberg as saying: "Although our prototype plane went down during a recent test, we remain optimistic about the potential of solar-powered planes to help deliver connectivity.
"Part of building a new technology is overcoming hurdles along the way."
Titan said it has recently flown a smaller version, the Solara 10.
The company has registered three Solara 50 drones with the FAA. Manufacturers intending to conduct unmanned flights require approval from the agency for the experimental and test aircraft.
Google is also working on Project Loon focused on beaming internet services through high-altitude balloons.
The company has unveiled two new advancements that could help forward the project, including an automated balloon launching process using cube-shaped Autolauncher.
Google vice-president and Project Loon lead Mike Cassidy said the Autolauncher helps lift-off balloons with four people in winds of up to 15 miles per hour.
The company has found a way to transfer internet signals from balloon to balloon in midair, allowing them to travel up to 800km from a ground station.
