This may seem too ridiculous to be true, but this is the world we live in. A year after the United States shot down a Chinese spy balloon that sparked a national frenzy, the military has discovered another balloon in American skies.
Officials are tracking a high-altitude balloon flying over the western United States. cbs news Reported Friday afternoon. The balloon reportedly flew over Colorado earlier in the day, causing concern among military officials. The outlet said the military sent personnel to inspect the balloon and concluded it posed no threat, but its origin and purpose remained unclear.
A spokesperson for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed to Gizmodo that the military discovered a “small balloon” at an altitude of 43,000-45,000 feet (13,100-13,700 meters).
“The balloon was intercepted by NORAD fighter jets over Utah, who determined that the balloon was unable to maneuver and did not pose a threat to national security. NORAD will continue to track and monitor the balloon,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Siman said in an email. “The FAA has also determined that the balloon does not pose a threat to flight safety. NORAD remains in close coordination with the FAA to ensure flight safety.”
As of press time, there haven’t been any public photos of this latest balloon, with some reports saying it appears to be made of Mylar with a small box hanging underneath. The balloon was said to be drifting eastward in the jet stream and was expected to fly over Georgia on Friday night, CBS News reported.
Back in February 2023, Chinese spy balloon crash causes havoc In the United States, it immediately triggered calls from Republicans for the Biden administration to veto it.Despite claims by Chinese officials that the balloon sparked a diplomatic crisis Not a spy This is actually a civilian project for meteorological research. Chinese officials claimed that the balloon had, in fact, entered the United States by accident.
“China regrets that the airship accidentally entered U.S. airspace due to force majeure,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement at the time.
U.S. officials Do not believe, noting that the balloon is capable of collecting communications via satellite and has “multiple antennas.” It also possessed other equipment “apparently used for intelligence surveillance.”
President Joe Biden finally orders Shooting down Chinese spy balloons Air Force fighter jets were used as the balloon flew over the Carolina coastline.