The United States has shot down a “high-altitude object” flying over Alaskan airspace and Arctic waters on Friday, National Security Council official John Kirby confirmed at the White House.
US President Joe Biden had given the order to shoot the object down, at the recommendation of Pentagon leaders, because it posed a risk to civilian aircraft at that altitude
National Security Counsil of America John Kirby said during a White House press briefing that, “The high-altitude object was flying at an altitude of 40,000 feet and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight.”
He added, “We’re calling this an object because that’s the best description we have right now and we don’t have any information that would confirm a stated purpose for this object.”
However, Last Saturday, fighter jets downed a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina. But in that case, the military knew what they were shooting down and where it came from.