Overview

• A US Customs and Border Protection surveillance blimp broke free during a severe wind event in South Padre Island, Texas, on Monday afternoon.
• The helium-filled aerostat, used to monitor low-altitude air and marine traffic, traveled nearly 600 miles before crashing in Hunt County, Texas, east of Dallas.
• The blimp struck power lines and damaged a family's roof in the rural town of Quinlan before being located by local fire and rescue teams on Tuesday.
• Federal, state, and local officials are investigating the incident, which occurred after wind gusts up to 75 mph swept through the region.
• The Tethered Aerostat Radar System is typically anchored with a nylon fiber cable and controlled by a powered winch, but its tether failed during the storm.