Fisherman Recover Mystery Balloon Off Alaska Coast, Not Shot Down by Military

Fishermen operating off the coast of Alaska have recovered an unidentified balloon, which a U.S. official has described as "a pretty big balloon." The discovery was confirmed by the official to CBS News on Friday. The balloon is currently en route to the port for further examination, and the official noted that photographs of the object are under scrutiny. However, a conclusive determination regarding the nature of the object will only be possible upon its arrival at the port.

Past Incidents

In January 2023, a suspected high-altitude Chinese spy balloon had been observed hovering over the United States. Subsequently, it was intercepted and shot down by a U.S. fighter jet near the coast of South Carolina. An investigation revealed that the balloon was equipped with sophisticated technology capable of intercepting communication signals and sensitive data. Despite this, China maintained that the balloon was a weather research satellite that had veered off its intended path.

Following this incident, several unidentified objects were targeted and downed by fighter jets in both the U.S. and Canada over the ensuing weeks, raising concerns about national security.

Reassurance from NORAD

Last month, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) disclosed that it had been monitoring another high-altitude balloon in the Western U.S. However, a day later, NORAD confirmed that the object had been identified as a hobbyist's balloon and posed no threat to national security. This revelation served to allay fears regarding the intentions behind the airborne objects.