DALLAS — A significant incident involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection occurred when a large surveillance balloon designed for monitoring along the Texas border came loose, traveling approximately 600 miles (966 kilometers) northward before crashing, according to officials. The mishap happened as strong winds hit the region.
The balloon, part of an aerostat system, detached from its tether on South Padre Island during a “severe wind event” on Monday afternoon, leading to a loss of communication, as stated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The balloon was subsequently found in Hunt County, roughly 30 miles east of Dallas, the following day.
Clay Hinton, a local resident, described the situation to WFAA television, expressing surprise at the event before officials arrived on the scene. “All the neighbors were over there. Nobody knew what it was,” Hinton remarked. Once officials showed up, he realized the gravity of the situation, stating it was more than just debris. “I was like, oh, OK it’s not just a tarp or anything,” Hinton noted. “That’s something!”
The region experienced a storm system on Tuesday morning, bringing wind gusts exceeding 75 mph (120 kph) to the Dallas area. Meanwhile, wind gusts in South Padre Island and its surroundings on Monday afternoon varied from 20 mph (32 kph) to 30 mph (48 kph), as reported by National Weather Service officials.
According to a customs agency fact sheet, the Tethered Aerostat Radar System employed by the agency is used to detect low-flying aircraft. The aerostat comprises two sections: an upper chamber filled with helium and a lower, pressurized air compartment.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced its intention to collaborate with federal, state, and local officials to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the occurrence.
