The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the U.S. military have confirmed that a high-altitude balloon intercepted over Utah and observed flying over various parts of the Western United States is a hobbyist balloon, not a threat to national security. Initially, the balloon's origin and purpose were unclear, prompting NORAD to scramble fighter jets for investigation. It was later determined that the balloon, described as a small mylar structure approximately 50 feet tall, 45ft wide, and 35ft tall with a 2-foot square box hanging underneath, was of amateur origin and posed no risk to civil aviation or national security. The balloon, which was flying at altitudes between 43,000 and 45,000 feet and reached approximately 58,000ft, has since left U.S. airspace. This incident comes a year after a Chinese spy balloon provoked a diplomatic crisis, highlighting the increased sensitivity to aerial objects in U.S. airspace.
Balloon floating over US was hobbyist craft, DOD confirms https://t.co/i9EU3yMf0K https://t.co/i9EU3yMf0K
Pentagon determines 'likely' origin for high-altitude balloon intercepted by US Military over Utah https://t.co/aBhhF2px2w https://t.co/hIbjYXFntN
Pentagon determines 'likely' origin for high-altitude balloon intercepted by US Military over Utah - one year after Chinese spy balloon provoked diplomatic crisis https://t.co/sSpTYNp1xu https://t.co/gYZSKQoOVt
Balloon intercepted over US likely related to a "hobby": Officials https://t.co/0Df7C8yNhm
Pentagon says new high altitude balloon intercepted over US 'likely hobby' craft year after China controversy https://t.co/NqoUvyp7YC
A high-altitude balloon of unknown origin and purpose was spotted over the Western United States Friday afternoon. https://t.co/MmmA5VimXk
The small, high-altitude hobbyist balloon being tracked by the U.S. has left American airspace, the North American Aerospace Defense Command told CBS News. https://t.co/O7PFfmyqHp
The most recent balloon was not sent by a foreign adversary, but it raised concerns because it was similar to the one shot down last year, according to officials. https://t.co/teBNLI17ct
Balloon intercepted over US likely related to a ‘hobby’: Officials https://t.co/rbMqCla7vz
Here’s what the mysterious high-altitude balloon that flew over US Friday really was https://t.co/8SpLKJtuED https://t.co/4nbvx3cIla
Unidentified balloon intercepted over Utah raises security concerns https://t.co/kcvlyDiyIt
#UPDATE: Object that triggered fighter jet scramble over Utah likely a hobby balloon https://t.co/Dgqddk2M4e via @GephardtDaily
NORAD fighter pilots sent to investigate the balloon determined it was “not maneuverable” and did not present a threat to national security. https://t.co/QvFfXVe4Dj
The U.S. small, high-altitude balloon posed no threat to national security, the military said Friday. https://t.co/YjmM8Eb70n
A suspected hobbyist balloon that was intercepted by fighter jets over Utah has left US airspace, according to NORAD https://t.co/7Rl2fzGH52
US Tracking Balloon Flying Over West, Poses No Security Threat: Military https://t.co/7StKLIxTv2
When DOD announced that a small balloon was flying over CO yesterday, Fox, Greene, Boebert & the usual suspects started screaming at Biden to shoot down the spy balloon. Turns out it was just a hobby balloon. Here is a clip & screen shots of the panic. https://t.co/JiMPw2J6gi
NORAD Says Mysterious High-Altitude Balloon ‘Likely’ A Hobby Balloon https://t.co/AV8NSGUYkk https://t.co/pVH6nBvxUN
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (@Som_CAA) confirms that Somalia’s airspace is under its full control and there is no security or risk issue. The SCAA guarantees the safety of all flights and passengers that use Somalia’s airspace. #Somalia #aviation #safety https://t.co/htO6cXAZNY
The small, high-altitude hobbyist balloon being tracked by the U.S. has left American airspace, the North American Aerospace Defense Command told CBS News on Saturday afternoon. https://t.co/EOMdpuqV0J
High-altitude balloon intercepted by US fighters 'likely hobby balloon': NORAD https://t.co/o6VlrDjlEg
The balloon was determined to not be a threat to national security, officials said. https://t.co/G3ULvDsFcT
LATEST: A balloon intercepted by fighter aircraft over Utah on Friday was a "likely hobby balloon" and has since left United States airspace, NORAD said. https://t.co/CYLPJX7HJe
"Military officials say small balloon spotted over Western U.S. poses no security risk." (via @USATODAY) https://t.co/ZNkZCjNRdM
NORAD has not said where the balloon came from or why it was flying over parts of the U.S. https://t.co/UbT3N8tqvF
U.S. Defense Officials now believe that Unidentified High-Altitude Balloon which was Detected yesterday over Colorado, causing several Fighter Jets to be Scrambled, was actually just a Hobbyist Weather Balloon.
🚨🇺🇸BREAKING - U.S: "IT IS NOT A SPY BALLOON" The balloon, floating over Western states between 43,000 and 45,000 feet, was investigated by NORAD fighters over Utah and deemed harmless. The U.S. is extra sensitive to aerial objects following last year's tension with China over… https://t.co/Thdr3NKv2L
NORAD has determined, after a quick investigation, that the balloon is actually from an amateur balloonist. https://t.co/k5q4DcWhdp
Balloon currently flying over the United States that prompted NORAD to scramble fighter jets is not from China, but instead the property of an amateur balloonist, defense officials say.
Defense department official says balloon detected yesterday over Utah has been assessed to be a hobbyist balloon. - CBS
Full year after Chinese spy balloon, Biden admin slammed for continued secrecy surrounding craft https://t.co/3SMuUwjua3 https://t.co/vNuPiEoqWv
Sound Familiar? Gov't Says Balloon Floating Over the U.S. Poses No Threat to Nat'l Security https://t.co/oSZ8iaDSjT
The North American Aerospace Defense Command is tracking a high-altitude balloon spotted high above Utah Friday afternoon. | By @HarmerAriel https://t.co/itQa1wYDjU
The small, high-altitude balloon being tracked by the U.S. is actually a hobbyist balloon, a Defense department official told CBS News on Saturday. https://t.co/8eIrqNlf4r
👀 New Details Have Been Released on the High-Altitude Balloon Moving Across the United States “It’s described as a small mylar balloon about 50 feet tall with a 2 foot square box hanging underneath.” https://t.co/8qIfJ41Rzr
The United States military intercepted a small balloon over the state of Utah on Friday and determined that it posed no threat to civil aviation or national security. https://t.co/g7rWlsH42Y
"The crack was not something that affected the flight's control or pressurization," a spokesperson for the airline said, per Reuters. https://t.co/yht7RUAG9h
NORAD fighters intercepted a small balloon, assessed to not be a threat, flying at a high altitude over the western U.S. on Friday, officials say. https://t.co/fKgVwEqksO
🇺🇸🚨‼️ “The US military recorded an aircraft over the western part of the country, its origin and purpose are unknown” - CBS TV channel Balloon season again … https://t.co/dsH1mRHBlR
#NORAD fighters intercept high-altitude balloon flying over #Utah today. I took this picture of a #Balloon over the Salt Lake Valley awhile back. This #Balloon was 45ft wide and 35ft tall. It was at an altitude of approximately 58,000ft. A U.S. official described the balloon as… https://t.co/qSScLQlZch
The U.S. is tracking a high-altitude balloon over the midwest, but it’s not clear if the balloon is a threat, officials said. https://t.co/8UHSJZwnMb