24-2-2024 (WASHINGTON) A small balloon was intercepted by fighter aircraft on Friday morning at an altitude ranging between 43,000 and 45,000 feet over Utah. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has stated that the balloon, despite its interception, is not considered a national security threat and is allowed to continue its flight above the United States.
According to a U.S. official, the balloon is approximately 50 feet tall and carries a payload about the size of a two-foot cube. The contents of the payload remain unknown at this time.
“NORAD detected a small balloon at an altitude ranging between 43,000 and 45,000 feet in close coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),” stated NORAD in a press release issued on Friday. “The balloon was intercepted by NORAD fighters over Utah, who determined it to be non-maneuverable and not posing a threat to national security.”
NORAD has committed to tracking and monitoring the balloon, while the FAA has also confirmed that it poses no hazard to flight safety. The organizations continue to work closely together to ensure the safety of air traffic.
The origins of the balloon remain unclear, as well as how it came to the attention of NORAD, as stated by the U.S. official.
This incident comes just over a year after a Chinese spy balloon traversed the United States, ultimately being shot down by U.S. fighters over U.S. territorial waters near South Carolina. That balloon, measuring nearly 200 feet in height, carried a payload equivalent to the length of three school buses. It was equipped with intelligence sensors and had remote maneuvering capabilities, causing tensions between the United States and China.
Following that event, NORAD made adjustments to its sensors to enhance the detection of high-altitude balloons flying over the United States and Canada. This led to the shootdown of smaller balloons over locations such as Alaska, Canada’s Yukon Territory, and Lake Huron.
