Military tracks high-altitude balloon over western US
The origin of the balloon and its purpose are not yet known, 2 officials said
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The U.S. military is tracking a high-altitude balloon over the Western United States, two U.S. officials confirmed to Fox News on Friday.
It was spotted by U.S. military aircraft and determined to not be a threat.
The origin of this balloon and its purpose are not yet known, the two officials said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The balloon is drifting east in the jet stream.
TAIWAN REPORTS CHINESE SPY BALLOON SIGHTING AS ELECTION NEARS
IN FLIGHT - FEBRUARY 03: U.S. Air Force pilot looks down at the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon as it hovered over the Central Continental, United States February 3, 2023. Recovery efforts began shortly after the balloon was downed. (US Department of Defense / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
"In close coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected a small balloon at an altitude varying between 43,000-45,000 ft," North American Aerospace Defense Command Public Affairs told Fox News Digital. "The balloon was intercepted by NORAD fighters over Utah, who determined it was not maneuverable and did not present a threat to national security. NORAD will continue to track and monitor the balloon. The FAA also determined the balloon posed no hazard to flight safety. NORAD remains in close coordination with the FAA to ensure flight safety."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}BIDEN CLAIMS CHINESE SPY BALLOON WAS ‘MORE EMBARRASSING’ FOR CHINA, SUGGESTS IT WASN'T ‘INTENTIONAL’
A year ago, a Chinese spy balloon was discovered and shot down after it flew over the U.S. for several days.
The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023. (Randall Hill/Reuters)
The Pentagon said in June that while the Chinese balloon had "intelligence collection capabilities," it didn't collect any data before it was shot down.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We also took steps to mitigate the potential efforts of that balloon," Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in June.
Intelligence agencies have concluded that the spy balloon was used for spying, not weather-related issues as China had claimed.
FILE PHOTO: A jet flies by a suspected Chinese spy balloon as it floats off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Randall Hill/File Photo (Reuters)
Information captured by the spy balloon is not believed to have been successfully sent back to Beijing. It is unclear why the spy mission seemed to fail, but officials said intelligence agencies used countermeasures to prevent data collection.
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The Chinese spy balloon flew from Alaska to the East Coast, where it was shot down by the military over the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4.
This is a developing story.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News' Bradford Betz contributed to this report.