How Did A Runaway Military Blimp End Up In Pennsylvania?

A runaway military blimp that broke free in Maryland later landed in Columbia County, Pennsylvania State Police told local emergency management officials there.

Pennsylvania State Police reported the blimp, which has a value of $200M according to CNN, landed around 3:45 p.m. in Muncy. No injuries were reported.

The runaway blimp, or aerostat, was tethered to a cement pad over Aberdeen Proving Ground when it became untethered Wednesday at 11:54 a.m.

It was carrying a missile detection system.

As many as 20,000 people in the Bloomsburg area were without power after the partially deflated blimp hovered close to the ground, knocking down power lines.

“It’s not something you want to fall out of the sky, it will come down very slowly,” Lt. General Mark Hertling, a CNN military analyst, said in a live report just before the blimp landed.

Two F-16s from the New Jersey National Guard tracked the blimp.

Governor Tom Wolf said his office was in communication with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Pennsylvania State Police, the National Guard and federal authorities.

“We are closely monitoring the situation, and we will work with the appropriate authorities to respond to any resource requests and assist in any way possible,” the governor said in a statement before the blimp landed.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) blimp is intended to detect missiles, drones and rockets. From their perch at 10,000 feet above sea level, the blimp is intended to keep lookout for threats from New York to North Carolina to Ohio.

Aberdeen Proving Ground released this statement Wednesday afternoon:

“Personnel are responding to a tether break at the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Netted Sensor System (JLENS) location on the Edgewood side of APG.

“The aerostat moored at Edgewood broke free at around 11:54 a.m.; approximately 6,700 feet of tether are attached. Emergency personnel are tracking the aerostat, which is still aloft and moving toward Pennsylvania.

“Anyone who sees the aerostat is advised to contact 911 immediately; people are warned to keep a safe distance from the airship and tether as contact with them may present significant danger.”

Meanwhile, a Twitter account created for the blimp began posting humorous Tweets complete with YouTube videos on Wednesday afternoon: