Officials and local residents said the suspected US drone crashed in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border. -Reuters File Photo

MIRAMSHAH A US drone crashed in Hamzoni area of North Waziristan on Sunday evening, but local tribesmen claimed to have shot down the pilotless aircraft.

According to the tribesmen, five drones were hovering over the area, about 10km west of Miramshah, and one of them flying at low altitude came down.

Drones usually fly low before attacking a target.

AP adds The tribesmen were congratulating each other for shooting down the drone, said Saudur Rehman, a resident.

Pakistan Army rejected similar claims after a drone crashed in South Waziristan in 2008, saying it was a technical problem.

“I saw that the aircraft was coming down and finally crashed in an open area a distance from me,” said Rehman, who indicated he heard gunfire just before the crash.

The crash occurred at around 6pm, said two officials.

The US does not discuss the drone strikes, but officials have said that they have killed senior Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders in the country.