After the US Air Force shot down another “flying object” over US territory on Friday, many questions remain about the incident. So it was initially unclear where the flying object the size of a small car came from and what it was for. It had no surveillance equipment, broadcaster CNN reported in the evening (local time), citing a US government official.
According to the military, the shooting over the US state of Alaska did not pose a major risk to people or buildings on the ground. An F-22 fighter jet shot down the flying object around 1:45 p.m., a Pentagon spokesman said. The main reason for this was the threat to civil air traffic, which operates at a similar altitude.
The Chinese balloon had flown significantly higher – more than 18 kilometers above the ground and thus well above the maximum height for civil aviation. After the fighter jet’s pilot determined it was unmanned, President Joe Biden recommended that it be shot down “as a precaution,” National Security Council communications director John Kirby said.
Tensions between US and China after balloon drop
It was initially unclear whether there was any connection to the Chinese balloon allegedly used for espionage purposes, which was taken down a week ago. The US military hovered it over the US mainland for several days and then shot it down over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina. The United States accuses the Chinese government of using it to spy on military facilities. Beijing, on the other hand, spoke of a civilian research balloon off course – describing the launch as an “overreaction”. The incident added tension to the already tense relationship between the two countries.
“Don’t know who owns this property”
The US government has not provided any information about the origin of the new flying object. “I want to reiterate that we don’t know who owns this object,” Kirby said. It was much smaller than the balloon. “It was the size of a small car.” The balloon, on the other hand, was more the size of two to three school buses. The expected debris field is therefore much smaller, says Kirby.
Cleaning up debris is difficult
The US government is now hoping for more information by recovering the rubble. After being shot down off the coast of Alaska near the Canadian border, parts of the object likely fell into frozen water. The Washington Post wrote that the recovery would be difficult because boats could not reach the crash site.
The object would have shattered on impact
The New York Times wrote that several US officials believed the new object was also a balloon. However, a Defense Ministry representative stressed that the object broke into pieces when it hit the frozen sea. This actually contradicts the balloon theory.
The flying object was first sighted Thursday evening (local time), Kirby said. Biden was immediately notified and issued the fire order Friday morning. Canada supported the decision and was aware, said neighboring country Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
