Strong winds from a recent storm in the south propelled a US Customs and Border Protection surveillance blimp nearly 600 miles across Texas.
The blimp, resembling a large, white hot air balloon, was dislodged from its base in South Padre Island, a beach town on the southern coast of Texas, around 3:15 p.m. local time on Monday due to “a severe wind event,” according to a statement from US Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations department.
Officials initially couldn’t locate the blimp, known as a Tethered Aerostat System, after its communications were lost due to wind damage. They requested public assistance in locating it.
On Tuesday, Quinlan Texas Fire and Rescue in Hunt County found the blimp 30 miles east of Dallas, the department reported.
The incident is under investigation by Air and Marine Operations, as well as federal, state, and local officials.
CNN has reached out to South Hunt County Fire and Rescue for comment.
Tethered Aerostat Systems are used by Customs and Border officials to track “suspicious air traffic” along the southwest border, as stated in an official fact sheet. These helium-filled systems are tethered to the ground, can be as long as 208.5 feet, and can weigh up to 2,400 pounds.
Video obtained by CNN affiliate WFAA shows the blimp rotating downwards from the sky before crashing and folding over a power pole.
Clay Hinton told WFAA he was initially confused about what the large white object was.
“Finally, I was like what is this? It’s not a hot air balloon!” he said, adding he was surprised when federal agents arrived to inspect the aerostat.
A family living near the crash site told WFAA that the blimp hit their home on its descent, damaging their roof.
“It’s a lot of missing pieces, broken pieces,” 9-year-old Axel said in a video interview with WFAA. “When I looked outside, I was about to cry.”
Geneva Larsey, a nearby resident, told WFAA that “four or five wrecker trucks” arrived to collect the balloon.
“We’re in a small town that no one comes to,” Larsey said. “Who would have thought a little balloon would crash here?”
The storm brought gusty winds and fire risks.
South Padre Island, where the blimp was dislodged, recorded maximum wind gusts over 30 mph on Monday, ahead of a major storm that swept through the central and southern US, bringing tornadoes, gusty winds, a significant dust storm, and fire weather.
In Texas, severe thunderstorms on Tuesday caused significant damage to buildings, and gusty winds downed trees and power lines across several cities, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Several wildfires erupted across central Texas on Tuesday as strong winds and dry air exacerbated fire conditions. Nearly all of these fires have since been contained.
However, another round of dry air and gusty winds on Thursday poses a threat of fire conditions, with fire weather expected from central New Mexico to western Texas. Winds could gust up to 65 mph across the region.
Red flag warnings are in effect on Thursday for over 3 million people across western Texas, much of New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, southwestern Kansas, and western Oklahoma.
