There is no indication at this time that the two unidentified objects are related to the downed Chinese surveillance balloon
An unidentified object was shot down over northern Canada on Saturday, marking the third time in a week that US fighter jets have shot down objects in North American airspace.
On Friday, another unidentified object was shot down in Alaskan airspace by a US F-22, and last weekend, a Chinese surveillance balloon was also shot down by an F-22 off the coast of South Carolina.
There is no indication at this time that the two unidentified objects have anything to do with China’s surveillance balloon, according to CNN, but it appears that national security officials across the continent remain at a standstill.
What is known so far
The unidentified object that was shot down in Canadian airspace had been located since Friday night, according to a statement from Pentagon spokesman Brig. General Patrick Ryder.
The object was located by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and two F-22 fighter jets from Joint Base Elementorf-Richardson, sthn Alaska, were dispatched to track the object with assistance from the Alaska Air National Guard.
The object appears to be “cylindrical” and smaller than the previously downed Chinese surveillance balloon, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said at a press conference on Saturday
“Tracking continued today as the object passed into Canadian airspace, with Canadian CF-18 and CP-140 aircraft joining the formation to further evaluate the object,” Ryder’s statement said.
US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau approved the takedown on Saturday, according to a White House statement.
“President Biden authorized US fighter jets assigned to NORAD to conduct the operation, and a US F-22 shot down the object over Canadian soil in close coordination with Canadian authorities,” the White House statement said.
“The leaders discussed the importance of recovering the object in order to determine more details about its purpose or origin.”
The object was shot down by an AIM-9X missile from a US F-22 – the same missile and aircraft that shot down an unidentified object on Friday and the Chinese surveillance balloon on February 4.
“He was flying at an altitude of approximately 40,000 feet, had illegally entered Canadian airspace and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flights. The object came down about 100 miles from the Canada-US border over Canadian territory in the central Yukon,” he said.
Ryder’s statement said that while Canadian authorities conduct recovery operations, the FBI will be “working closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.”
The downing of an unidentified object on Saturday is the third such incident in a week.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
