A mysterious high-altitude balloon spotted soaring over the Western United States on Friday has been identified as a hobbyist device and has already left American airspace, according to a report by federal investigators.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) informed CBS News that the small balloon, flying at an altitude between 43,000 and 45,000 feet, exited US airspace sometime during the night. NORAD, the nation’s airspace watchdog, dispatched fighter jets to intercept the balloon shortly after it was detected hovering over Utah on Friday.
While officials initially remained unsure about the balloon’s origin, they swiftly determined that it posed no threat to flight safety. The balloon, which was not maneuverable, was found to be made of Mylar and had a small cube-shaped box, approximately two feet long on each side, hanging below it.
NORAD was first alerted to the balloon’s presence as it flew over Colorado, gradually drifting in an easterly direction along the jetstream. Although the object’s initial appearance raised concerns, further investigation revealed it to be a hobbyist balloon.
The incident bears similarities to a previous event over a year ago when US Air Force F-22 fighter jets intercepted and shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the South Carolina coast. The Chinese balloon, which had traversed the continental US over several days, was described by President Biden as carrying “two boxcars full of spy equipment.” Its presence over key US military installations sparked intense criticism and raised questions about national security protocols.
President Biden faced scrutiny from Republicans who argued that the Chinese balloon should have been intercepted sooner. However, in the case of the recent hobbyist balloon, federal investigators swiftly determined that it posed no threat, bringing the incident to a close without major incident.
The identification of the high-altitude balloon as a hobbyist device highlights the complexities involved in monitoring and safeguarding airspace, underscoring the importance of swift and accurate assessments to ensure national security.
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Ido
Interesting that this balloon is discovered just as AT&T and a variety of others mysteriously loose Cell service !
That’s a likely story from our government, probably another spy balloon and another Dem lie.
It’s probably full of Trump’s dirty underwear. 00pm 00pm 9 o 00
I am sure that if Jesus be alive today in America, he probably would be a Democrat and he probably be criticized by Republicans for curing people and bringing back the dead killed by their gun policies without having a license.
Actually, since his name is Jesus, Trump would probably have him deported back to Mexico.
China, Russia and now even Iran have satellites that can probably see the USA as well or better than Google does, they do not need balloons. If we are going to overreact every time , dispatch an F22 and shoot it down with a $200K missile as not to be criticized by the GOP dishonest pols and their ignorant followers, we will be running out of missiles and money soon. Idiots will be idiots and they should be ignore OR ridicule