One of Google’s Project Loon balloons has crashed into a power line

Google has confirmed that a balloon involved in its Project Loon struck power lines and knocked out electricity for some residents of a Washington town last week. The company told NBC News that the balloon was “in the process of a controlled landing” at around 1AM when it took out a small number of electrical lines. Prior to the descent, Google notified FAA officials of the landing to avoid any risk of interference with nearby air traffic. Unfortunately, Google has no way of ensuring its balloons won’t wreak havoc once they’re closer to the ground; there’s little the company can do about unexpected wind gusts, for example. Responding to the incident, a utility worker came upon “what appeared to be a weather balloon with blinking lights entangled in the power lines,” reported the Yakima Herald Republic. The entire scene was cleared by 6AM.