Giant Border Protection blimp crashes in Texas after escaping during high winds, traveling 400 miles
The federal agency said that a Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) operated by CBP Air and Marine Operations broke free from its tether in South Padre Island, in an area where wind gusts of nearly 60 mph were reported.
A helium-filled balloon measuring about 200 feet long and more than 60 feet wide, the TARS was located Wednesday on a ranch east of Dallas. This means the blimp was blown about 400 miles away from where it was originally tethered on the southern tip of Texas.
Footage of the crashed aircraft showed a crew tending to it as its white fabric exterior appeared torn and flopped over bare tree branches and power lines.
How To Watch Fox Weather
TARS are used on the southern border of the U.s. to track suspicious air traffic, according to CBP. The TARS site in South Padre Island is one of eight the CBP AMO operates along the southern border.Original article source: Giant Border Protection blimp crashes in Texas after escaping during high winds, traveling 400 miles
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
26 minutes ago
- New York Post
‘Near historic' Erin among largest 10% of hurricanes ever recorded in Atlantic at over 500 miles wide
Hurricane Erin is one of the largest storms to ever pass the Eastern Seaboard — stretching more than 500 miles wide as the behemoth cyclone churns up 80-foot waves. Erin, the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, was described as 'near historical' by Fox Weather meteorologist Jarrod Maloney. Maloney said Erin's sheer size ranks it among the 10% biggest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic and it's only expected to widen as it heads northeast. 3 Hurricane Erin stretched more than 500 miles in diameter and created waves about 80 feet high on the open ocean. NOAA/AFP via Getty Images 'It is larger than most storms,' Maloney said. 'This area of the Atlantic has larger sized storms than other parts of the Atlantic, larger than the Gulf of Mexico.' Erin mercifully did not make landfall and is not forecast to, but the storm still left swaths of the East Coast on high alert as huge waves crashed ashore. North Carolina's outer banks were hit particularly hard, with waves up to 20 feet barreling into the exposed beaches and swamping the vulnerable communities. Waves have also reached 10 feet and more across other eastern coastlines as the storm passed. 3 The Outer Banks of North Carolina was hit by waves upwards of 20 feet, which swamped the exposed spits of land. AP But those swells are nothing compared to what one National Weather Service buoy measured about 150 miles off the North Carolina coast as the storm passed overhead — where waves Thursday morning averaged about 40 feet. Some even reached as high as 80 feet at times. Erin remained a Category 2 storm with winds around 100-mph into Thursday evening, and began moving away from the North Carolina's battered coast. It is expected to continue bringing serious waves and rip currents up the East Coast, where some cities and states have closed their public beaches. 3 Seaside communities across nearly the entire East Coast were cautioned about waves and rip currents this week. AP New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency over warnings about possible flooding in beachside towns. Big Apple beaches began feeling the storm's effects in earnest Thursday — where some brave souls defied the closures to surf the waves — and will continue being pounded into Friday. The city itself and inland areas throughout New England are not expected to experience any serious adverse conditions. Fox Weather predicted the storm's effects will have passed by Monday morning.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Surfers catch huge waves on Rockaway Beach from Hurricane Erin
Surf's waaay up, dude! Surfers flocked to Rockaway Beach in Queens Thursday to ride a swell of giant waves kicked up by Hurricane Erin — as the storm threatened to flood some nearby coastal areas. 'There's more adrenaline out there because the waves are bigger,' said Michael Kololyan, 35, who runs a surf school in the neighborhood. Advertisement Kololyan hung ten on waves that were 6 to 8 feet tall Thursday afternoon — and had to cancel surf classes because the conditions were too gnarly. 3 Surfers flocked to Rockaway Beach Thursday to ride a swell of extra-large waves kicked up by Hurricane Erin. Bryan Bedder for NY Post 'These hurricane swells have been traveling for thousands of miles. It's bringing an intense amount of energy to the coastline,' he said. 'It's experienced people only out there right now.' Advertisement Waves on Rockaway beach peaked at 9 feet Thursday and swelled up to 16 feet on the Jersey shore, said FOX Weather Senior Meteorologist Greg Diamond. 3 Waves peaked at 9 feet tall on Rockaway Beach Thursday. Bryan Bedder for NY Post Overall, Hurricane Erin is expected to have only a minor impact on the Big Apple weather Thursday night and Friday with breezy winds up to 30 mph, Diamond told The Post. But coastal sections of southern Long Island and the entire Jersey shore are at risk of flooding as the storm churns northwest, he said. Advertisement 'One thing we do have to watch for is high tide. There could be some moderate coastal flooding,' he said. 3 Only professional surfers hit the beach Thursday for 6 to 8 foot waves. Bryan Bedder for NY Post High tide will hit Long Island around 9 a.m. Friday morning and the Jersey shore at 8 a.m., he said. Advertisement In New York City, Friday is expected to be 'pretty gorgeous,' in the mid-80s and partly sunny, Diamond said. Saturday will be sunny and also in the mid-80s after the storm leaves.
Fox News
8 hours ago
- Fox News
North Carolina braces for impact from Hurricane Erin
FOX Weather's Katie Byrne reports from Nags Head, North Carolina, as a state of emergency is issued.
