MetLife Blimp crashes; no one injured

VALDOSTA - A MetLife blimp narrowly missed a gazebo just before it crashed Monday in south Georgia due to high winds. <br> <br> The pilot was forced to jump from the gondola moments before the blimp&#39;s impact. Authorities said no one was injured in the incident, which happened shortly after 5 p.m. in Lowndes County. <br> <br> The pilot described the crash as controlled. <br> <br> The blimp initially tried to land at Valdosta Regional Airport but high winds from an afternoon storm blew the ship named ``Snoopy One&#39;&#39; off course. <br> <br> Snoopy One is one of two MetLife blimps that cover professional sporting events around the country. A five-vehicle, 14-member crew travels with the blimp during its trips across the country. <br> <br> A similar incident happened with Snoopy One&#39;s sister ship in Kansas City in September 2001. The blimp in town for a professional football game broke away from its mooring during a thunderstorm and landed about 75 miles away in rural northern Missouri. No one was injured during that event. <br> <br> Federal Aviation Administration Officials are expected to investigate the crash Tuesday.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/10/188677