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ABC News
ABC News
National

Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade loses transmission with pico balloon after US authorities down objects

United States Illinois Alaska FBI Norrn Command
The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade has lost contact with its pico balloon, which has circumnavigated the globe six times.  (AP: Tom Medlin )

A US hobby group says it lost contact with its pico balloon, last detected flying over south-east Alaska on February 11, sparking speculation it could be one of the three benign balloons downed by authorities. 

The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade says it has declared the balloon, which has circumnavigated the globe six times, missing in action after its last transmission indicated that it was near Hagemeister Island, off the south-west corner of Alaska

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