Following yesterday’s wild blimp chase that commenced when a surveillance aircraft at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland broke free of its mooring and drifted into Pennsylvania, the Army says its companion blimp will be grounded pending an investigation.
The $175 million Raytheon-manufactured craft—part of the military’s Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System, or JLENS, for short—crashed down near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, more than four hours after it flew away. Instead of carrying out its mission of testing an expensive, potentially wasteful missile-defense system, the blimp dragged 6,700 feet of cable with it and left a trail of destruction that cut electricity to tens of thousands of unsuspecting Pennsylvanians.
But as it landed, someone on the ground in Bloomsburg was able to record its descent. Watch as the wayward dirigible emerges from the gray, coal-region mist and falls to earth behind an unsuspecting farmhouse.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Video: The Runaway Army Blimp’s Final Moments
Following yesterday’s wild blimp chase that commenced when a surveillance aircraft at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland broke free of its mooring and drifted into Pennsylvania, the Army says its companion blimp will be grounded pending an investigation.
The $175 million Raytheon-manufactured craft—part of the military’s Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System, or JLENS, for short—crashed down near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, more than four hours after it flew away. Instead of carrying out its mission of testing an expensive, potentially wasteful missile-defense system, the blimp dragged 6,700 feet of cable with it and left a trail of destruction that cut electricity to tens of thousands of unsuspecting Pennsylvanians.
But as it landed, someone on the ground in Bloomsburg was able to record its descent. Watch as the wayward dirigible emerges from the gray, coal-region mist and falls to earth behind an unsuspecting farmhouse.
[h/t Gawker]
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Most Popular in News & Politics
Best of Washington 2024: Things to Eat, Drink, Shop, Do, and Know
Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People of 2024
What It Felt Like for a Virginia Marching Band to Win Metallica’s Contest
What’s IN and OUT in DC Restaurant Trends for 2024
Washingtonian Magazine
August: Great Festivals & Fairs
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
Best of Washington 2024: Where to Eat and Drink
Best of Washington 2024: Things to Do
Best of Washington 2024: Where to Shop
Best of Washington 2024: Things to Know
More from News & Politics
Mubadala Citi Open 2024 Is Putting Mics on Players and Hosting Michelin-Star Chefs
Why Is Babydog in All These Famous Artworks?
Varsity Pickleball Will Come to All Montgomery County High Schools This Fall
Can Any Town in the US Dethrone Arlington as the Nation’s Fittest Place?
I Saw “Twisters” in 4DX. I Didn’t Realize It Was a Comedy.
A Gen-Zer’s Guide to Kamala Harris Memes
MAP: How to Get Around DC During Benjamin Netanyahu’s Visit This Week
Olympics 2024: These DC-Area Athletes Will Compete in Paris