The Airlander 10's accidental safety test

Oops, but not too oops. It's a useful test of the safety system, at least.

The world's longest aircraft has collapsed to the ground less than 24 hours after a successful test flight. The Airlander 10 - a combination of a plane and an airship - was seen to "break in two" at an airfield in Bedfordshire, an eyewitness said. Owner Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd said it appeared the Airlander broke free from its mooring mast, triggering a safety system which deflates the aircraft. Two people on the ground suffered minor injuries. It was not flying and was not due to fly, Hybrid Air Vehicles said.

"The safety feature is to ensure our aircraft minimises any potential damage to its surroundings in these circumstances," Hybrid Air Vehicles added. "The aircraft is now deflated and secure on the edge of the airfield. The fuel and helium inside the Airlander have been made safe. We are testing a brand new type of aircraft and incidents of this nature can occur during this phase of development. We will assess the cause of the incident and the extent of repairs needed to the aircraft in the next few weeks."


http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-42037832