The Hybrid Air Vehicles Airlander broke free from its mooring mast at Cardington Airfield in England but a uniquely dramatic safety feature prevented it from running amok. Airlander reported on Saturday that after leaving its moorings, an onboard system ripped open the hull and deflated the enormous aircraft so it ended up crumpled on the edge of the airfield. "The aircraft is now deflated and secure on the edge of the airfield," the company said in a Facebook post. "The fuel and helium inside the Airlander have been made safe." One staff member was slightly injured but was checked at a local hospital and released.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/business-military/airlander-deflates-after-breaking-free