The U.S. military intercepted a small balloon over the state of Utah on Friday and confirmed that it did not pose a threat to civil aviation or national security, as per a U.S. official speaking to Reuters. The official, who requested anonymity, mentioned that the balloon lacked the ability to maneuver itself while flying at an altitude ranging from 43,000 to 45,000 feet (13,100 to 13,700 meters).
No additional information was provided about the balloon, such as whether it was a simple hobby balloon. The North American Aerospace Defense Command did not respond immediately to a comment request. In February 2023, an American fighter jet near the coast of South Carolina shot down a Chinese spy balloon, according to the Pentagon. The balloon was said to be capable of gathering intelligence within the United States and had the ability to self-maneuver.
This incident further strained relations between the U.S. and China, with China denying any espionage intentions and claiming the balloon had drifted into U.S. airspace unintentionally while being used for meteorological and scientific purposes.
