NORAD fighters intercept high-altitude balloon over Utah
2 Min Read
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced in a statement that it had identified the balloon at a height of 43,000-45,000 feet (13,100-13,700 meters), according to CBS News.
-
A US Air Force U-2 Pilot looks down at a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon as it hovers over the US on February 3, 2023. (Department of Defense via AP)
US media has reported that a tiny balloon flying at high altitude over the US state of Utah was caught by fighter planes on Friday but found to represent no national security or aviation concern,
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced in a statement that it had identified the balloon at a height of 43,000-45,000 feet (13,100-13,700 meters), according to CBS News.
The agency announced in a statement that NORAD fighters intercepted the balloon over Utah and "determined it was not maneuverable and did not present a threat to national security," adding that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) "also determined the balloon posed no hazard to flight safety."
NORAD announced it would continue to monitor the balloon and track its location.
Balloon saga continues
According to an anonymous US official, the balloon had a cube-shaped box dangling beneath it that was roughly two feet long on each side.
In February of last year, the United States fired down a large white balloon from China after it was observed above several nuclear weapons facilities.
The balloon was flying over the North American Aerospace Defense Command on January 28, over Alaska, before it was found floating over missile sites in Montana. Days later, after tracking, the US decided to shoot it down over the South Carolina coast.
The Washington Post reported at the time that the US intel suspected the Chinese balloon was one of many meant to collect sensitive military information from Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
According to officials, balloons belonging to China have been located over five continents.
Beijing denied it was a surveillance balloon, citing that it was employed for meteorological research and had blown off course.
