Days Before This Week's U.S. Blimp Fiasco Another Blimp Accident Caused 5 NATO Fatalities In Afghanistan

Dan Froomkin, The Intercept: Days Before Runaway Military Blimp, Another Blimp Accident in Kabul Killed Five

The runaway military surveillance blimp that came loose from an Army base in Maryland on Wednesday dragged its torn tether through power lines in two Pennsylvania counties before crashing into the woods.

But at least no one died.

The same can’t be said of a recent accident involving a U.S. military blimp in Kabul that constantly hovers over the Afghan capital. (See The Above, a short documentary from The Intercept’s Field of Vision project, also embedded below.)

On Oct. 11, a British military helicopter was coming in for a landing at NATO headquarters, where the blimp is moored. According to an eyewitness who spoke to the BBC, the helicopter hit the tether, which then wrapped itself around the rotors. The helicopter crashed, killing five people — two U.S. service members, two British service members, and a French contract civilian — and injuring five more.

WNU Editor: The NATO accident in Afghanistan in Afghanistan is still under investigation. But what I find interesting about the above video is that when it started to deflate .... all the Afghans were cheering.

Update #1: Blimp fiasco renews criticism of costly military surveillance program (FOX News)
Update #2: Removal of Military Blimp Complete (WNEP)