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US defence blimp on the loose | US defence blimp on the loose |
(35 minutes later) | |
A high-tech US military blimp designed to detect a missile attack has come loose from its moorings and is floating free. | |
The aerostat, which floats above Aberdeen, Maryland, had drifted into Pennsylvania, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) said. | |
It is not clear how the blimp broke free. | It is not clear how the blimp broke free. |
Two F-16 fighter jets have been sent to monitor the blimp and anyone who spots it is asked to call emergency services. | Two F-16 fighter jets have been sent to monitor the blimp and anyone who spots it is asked to call emergency services. |
The blimp came loose around 12:00 local time (16:00 GMT). The defence department has said it is working with US aviation officials to ensure air traffic safety in the area. | |
The aircraft, more than 200ft (61m) long, is known as a Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) and has been criticised by privacy advocates. | |
A recent investigation by the Baltimore Sun found the programme had been "hobbled by defective software, vulnerability to bad weather and poor reliability". | |
Multiple reports placed the blimp near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, in the centre of the state, according to local media. | |
Two Twitter parody accounts - one which had been tweeting as the blimp for several years - reacted quickly. | |
"Peace out losers," one said. |