On Friday, a U.S. F-22 fighter aircraft brought down an object that was flying at high altitude in Alaska, according to U.S. officials.
This event took place less than a week after the military took down a Chinese balloon that had traversed the United States.
The unidentified object, which was approximately the size of a small car, was shot down with a Sidewinder missile, said U.S. Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon’s lead spokesperson.
The ownership of the object remains unknown, stated White House spokesperson John Kirby. Its origin and starting point of flight are also unclear.
President Joe Biden gave the order for the shootdown, which was later confirmed by the White House.
On February 4th, another U.S. F-22 fighter jet took down what the American government referred to as a Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina. This followed the balloon’s week-long voyage across the United States and parts of Canada. However, the Chinese government claimed it was a civilian research vessel.
Some members of the legislature criticized the President for not bringing down the Chinese balloon sooner. The U.S. military had advised against taking action until the balloon was over the ocean to prevent the risk of injuries from falling debris.
The Pentagon and the White House declined to provide a comprehensive explanation of the recent object, stating only that it was much smaller in size compared to the Chinese balloon.
Despite a day of examination, U.S. officials refrained from speculating about the nature of the object, leading to questions about what type of object could be so challenging to identify by skilled U.S. pilots and intelligence personnel.
According to the Pentagon, the object was first detected on Thursday by using ground-based radar systems. Subsequently, F-35 aircraft were deployed to conduct an investigation. The UFO was flying at an altitude of around 40,000 feet (12,190 meters) in a northeasterly direction and posed a threat to civilian air traffic.
A U.S. military fighter jet shot down an object flying off the coast of Alaska on Friday on orders from President Joe Biden.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby described the object as roughly the size of a small car. https://t.co/WweMhc5lzI pic.twitter.com/EW7lrYKt5k
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 10, 2023
Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder stated that American pilots who flew close to the recent object before it was shot down confirmed that there was no human presence aboard. He added that the object was unable to maneuver and did not resemble an aircraft. However, Ryder and other officials declined to speculate if it was a weather balloon or any other type of balloon.
“It wasn’t an airplane as such,” Ryder stated in a news briefing.
The F-22 brought down the object at 1:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
When asked about the need for Biden’s authorization, Ryder acknowledged that the U.S. military commander responsible for North American airspace had the authority to shoot down objects that posed a military threat or a threat to the American people.
“In this particular case, it was determined that the object posed a considerable risk to air traffic,” Ryder explained.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that it temporarily closed some airspace in northern Alaska to support activities by the Department of Defense.
Following the shootdown of the 200-foot-tall Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon, U.S. officials have been searching the ocean to recover any debris and the undercarriage of electronic equipment.
Ryder informed reporters that “a significant portion” of the balloon had already been recovered or located, suggesting that American officials might soon have more information regarding any Chinese espionage capabilities on board the vessel.
After the object was brought down on Friday, some members of the legislature praised President Biden.
“Glad to see the President respond promptly to this new breach of our airspace,” said Senator Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
In a tense Senate hearing on Thursday, lawmakers criticized the Pentagon for not shooting down the Chinese balloon earlier, highlighting the ongoing concern in Congress about the gaps in the U.S. ability to secure its airspace.