Google's 'Project Loon' crashes in Sri Lanka test flight

A Google balloon, part of the company's high-speed Internet service known as 'Project Loon', crashed in a Sri Lankan tea plantation during its maiden test flight, local police said

Colombo: A Google balloon, part of the company's high-speed Internet service known as 'Project Loon', crashed in a Sri Lankan tea plantation during its maiden test flight, local police said.

Villages found the deflated balloon with its electronic equipment in the island's central tea-growing region of Gampola on Wednesday night, an officer told media.

However Sri Lanka's Information and Communication Technology Agency, which is coordinating the tests with Google, described the landing as controlled and scheduled.

"Google loon balloon safely landed under standard operating procedures in #lka as a part of the test," ICTA chief Muhunthan Canagey said on Twitter.

The ICTA declined to comment to media on details of the landing which had not been previously announced.

The first of three Google balloons entered Sri Lankan air space on Monday after being launched from South America. The launch is part of a planned joint venture between the US Internet giant and Colombo to deliver high-speed Internet access powered by helium-filled balloons.

The government announced earlier this month it would take a 25 percent stake in the joint venture with Google. Sri Lanka is not investing any capital, but will take the stake in return for allocating spectrum for the project.

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