Key takeaways:
- The balloon was identified as a Chinese weather research airship that had been blown off course.
- The Pentagon had considered shooting it down but ultimately decided against it.
- The incident has raised questions about the security of U.S. airspace and the potential for foreign surveillance.
A mysterious balloon spotted over American airspace has been identified as a Chinese weather research airship that had been blown off course, according to a statement from Beijing’s Foreign Ministry on Friday.
The balloon was first spotted in Billings, Montana, some 6,000 miles away from its original destination in China. The Pentagon had considered shooting it down due to its potential to fly over sensitive sites, but ultimately decided against it due to concerns of hurting people on the ground.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the balloon was used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes and had deviated far from its planned course due to strong winds and a lack of steering capability. The ministry expressed regret for the unintended entry of the airship into U.S. airspace and said it would keep communicating with the U.S. to “properly handle this unexpected situation.”
The balloon’s discovery has not been formally announced and it is unclear if it will affect any planned travel by Chinese officials. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said she had no information on the matter.
The incident has raised questions about the security of U.S. airspace and the potential for foreign surveillance. It is unclear if the balloon was equipped with any surveillance equipment, but the Chinese Foreign Ministry has maintained that it was used solely for research purposes.
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