As of: February 25, 2024, 10:19 a.m
By: Victoria Krumbeck
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The US military is investigating a balloon spotted over Utah.
The impact of the balloon on the airspace is examined.
Salt Lake City – A balloon over the USA has alerted air surveillance.
The balloon is very reminiscent of the suspected Chinese spy balloon that was shot down last year, which is why an investigation has been launched.
The military is monitoring the balloon's flight, but so far has not discovered any danger.
US military intercepts balloon and puzzles over origin
The balloon left US airspace on Saturday, the North American Aerospace Defense Command told
CBS News
on Saturday afternoon (local time) .
The balloon had flown at an altitude of 13,100 meters and 13,700 meters, according to the military command responsible for air defense over the USA and Canada, NORAD.
A U.S. official told
CBS News
that the balloon was made of Mylar and had a cube-shaped box hanging beneath it, each side measuring 2 feet (60 centimeters) long.
This image shows a 3D illustration of a spy balloon.
(Symbolic image).
© xBoris28498x/IMAGO
“The balloon was intercepted by NORAD fighters over Utah, who determined it was unmaneuverable and posed no threat to national security.
NORAD will continue to track and monitor the balloon,” it said in a statement.
In addition, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that the balloon did not affect flight safety.
Chinese espionage balloon over the USA?
– Official gives the all-clear
The balloon, which flew over Colorado and Utah, later left the United States via the West.
On Saturday the assumption that the balloon was not dangerous was confirmed.
A Defense Department official told
CBS News
that the flying object was a hobby balloon.
In February 2023, US President Joe Biden ordered the shooting down of a Chinese balloon over the US east coast.
China was suspected of using the balloon for espionage purposes.
Beijing denied this, saying the balloon was used for weather research and went off course.
The diplomatic relations between the two countries suffered as a result of this incident.
Chinese balloons are also regularly spotted over Taiwan.
(vk)