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                    Runaway US Military Blimp Back on Ground

   by VOA News

   A large unmanned U.S. military blimp that broke loose from its tether
   Wednesday and floated over Pennsylvania for several hours is back on
   the ground after deflating.

   There are no reports of injuries or serious damage, but about 30,000
   people lost electricity as the blimp's cables hung down when it
   drifted, snapping power lines on the ground.

   Two F-16 fighter jets trailed the blimp during its unplanned flight.

   The unmanned blimp is the same kind used to provide surveillance in
   Afghanistan and Iraq. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told reporters the
   blimps have broken loose before in Afghanistan. It is unclear how
   Wednesday's blimp got away, but Carter said bad weather may have been
   involved.

   Officials also are uncertain what caused it to deflate.

   The blimp broke away from its mooring at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds
   in northern Maryland Wednesday afternoon and drifted into central
   Pennsylvania to the north. It caused excitement in the small farming
   towns with people taking pictures and telephoning police.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-military-blimp-breaks-loose/3026854.html