Errant military blimp sparks fighter jet response, power outages in US
WASHINGTON (AFP) – A massive US surveillance blimp broke loose from its mooring Wednesday, sparking power outages as it drifted around Pennsylvania dragging a 6,600foot cable before eventually easing down to Earth, officials said.
Two US F-16s fighter jets were scrambled to pursue the so-called JLENS blimp as it floated north of Washington at an altitude of about 15,000 feet (4,600 meters).
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said the huge balloon-like structure finally landed in Montour County in Pennsylvania, at around 4:00 pm (2000 GMT). A military recovery team was en route to collect the runaway aircraft.
NORAD spokesman Captain Scott Miller said a section of the aerostat’s tail had broken off and plummeted to the ground. It wasn’t immediately known if it caused any damage or injuries.
Authorities warned people to “remain clear’’ as power outages were reported in the town of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
Local television said the cable attached to the helium-filled blimp had been “hitting power lines and causing blackouts’’ in Bloomsburg.
It came untethered from its mooring at Aberdeen Proving Ground, an army installation in Maryland about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northeast of Washington, at around 12:20 pm (1620 GMT) while at an altitude of about 6,600 feet.
“People are warned to keep a safe distance from the airship and tether as contact with them may present significant danger,’’ a statement from the Aberdeen Proving Ground said.
Weather conditions were within normal parameters for the craft to be in the skies.