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US defence blimp on the loose Escaped US defence blimp grounded
(about 1 hour later)
A high-tech US military blimp designed to detect a missile attack has come loose from its moorings and is floating free. A US military blimp designed to detect a missile attack that came loose from its mooring is on the ground and secure, state police say.
The aerostat, which floats above Aberdeen, Maryland, had drifted into Pennsylvania, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) said. The aerostat landed in Muncy, Pennsylvania, after floating for three hours from its usual location in Aberdeen, Maryland.
It is not clear how the blimp broke free. The blimp caused about 18,000 power outages as it dragged its tether line, taking down electricity cables.
Two F-16 fighter jets have been sent to monitor the blimp and anyone who spots it is asked to call emergency services. It is not known how the 200ft-long (61m) aircraft came loose.
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. Known as a Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS), it has been criticised by privacy advocates.
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".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.Two Twitter parody accounts - one which had been tweeting as the blimp for several years - reacted quickly.
"Peace out losers," one said."Peace out losers," one said.
The blimp system is also used in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to provide ground surveillance around US bases and other sensitive sites.
"My understanding is, from having seen these break loose in Afghanistan on a number of occasions, we could get it to descend and then we'll recover it and put it back up," Defence Secretary Ash Carter told reporters. "This happens in bad weather."