Congressmen still searching for answers about runaway blimp

December 31, 2015

The Daily Item:

WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Pat Toomey and U.S. Representative Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, both Republicans, have each received assurances from the U.S. Army that they will be kept up to date on the investigation now being conducted into damages caused by the Army blimp that crashed in Montour County in October.

The 243-foot-long blimp, or aerostat, is a key component of the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS); the damage occurred after it got loose from its tether.

Published reports Monday said that claims of over $300 million have been made by various parties. An attempt to confirm that number was made Monday afternoon. Several calls and emails to U.S. Army communications officer Dov Schwartz were not returned.

Toomey’s press representative E.R. Anderson said he “did write a letter to the pentagon asking for details. Toomey received an interim response from pentagon basically saying they received his letter and will give a fuller response when details are available.”

The Army told Barletta they will brief him when their investigation is complete…

Read full post.