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Officials: Runaway Blimp Has Been Grounded

U.S. Air Force Col. William Pitts walks in front of an unmanned aerostat that is part of a new U.S. military cruise-missile defense system during a media preview, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, in Middle River, Md. Milita... U.S. Air Force Col. William Pitts walks in front of an unmanned aerostat that is part of a new U.S. military cruise-missile defense system during a media preview, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, in Middle River, Md. Military officials said a pair of helium-filled aerostats stationed in Maryland are intended provide early detection of cruise missiles over a large swath of the East Coast, from Norfolk, Va., to upstate New York, during a three-year test. JLENS, short for Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System, will be fully implemented this winter. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) MORE LESS
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October 28, 2015 4:27 p.m.
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Pennsylvania state police officials say the massive military blimp that broke free from its tether Wednesday has been grounded, the AP reported. The blimp, known as JLENS, descended near Williamsport in Pennsylvania and was secure, according to Bob Reese, a state police spokesman in Montoursville. NORAD spokesman Capt. Scott Miller has confirmed its grounding as well, according to the Daily Beast.

The blimp, technically an aerostat, was based in Maryland, outside of Washington. It was made by military contractor Raytheon, as part as the $2.7 billion JLENS program. It carried radar equipment meant to act as an early detection system in the case of an air attack on the country.

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Tierney Sneed (@Tierney_Megan)  is a D.C.-based investigative reporter. She focuses on voting rights and previously covered health care for TPM.
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