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.
#Blimp on the ground, in the vicinity of Moreland Township, NORAD confirms. https://t.co/CtJwzODt4I #liveonFOX45 pic.twitter.com/N1PXXeQu29
— FOX Baltimore (@FOXBaltimore) October 28, 2015