BREAKING: U.S. shoots down the Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast and an operation is underway to recover the debris.
The balloon was spotted Saturday morning over the Carolinas as it approached the Atlantic coast. In preparation for the operation, the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily closed airspace over the Carolina coastline, including the airports in Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, until at least 2:45 p.m. EST Saturday. The FAA was rerouting air traffic from the area and warned of delays as a result of the flight restrictions.
Biden had been inclined to down the balloon over land when he was first briefed on it on Tuesday, but Pentagon officials advised against it, warning that the potential risk to people on the ground outweighed the assessment of potential Chinese intelligence gains. China has continued to claim that the balloon was merely a weather research “airship” that had been blown off course. The Pentagon rejected that out of hand — as well as China’s contention that it was not being used for surveillance and had only limited navigational ability.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a question about the second balloon.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chinese balloon: US considering plan to down spy balloon over AtlanticThe balloon was spotted Saturday morning over North Carolina as it neared the Atlantic coast.
Read more »
US weighing decision to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over Atlantic Ocean, official tells Fox NewsPresident Biden is considering a plan to shoot down the Chinese spy balloon that traveled across the United States this week once it crosses over the Atlantic Ocean.
Read more »
FAA shuts down airpsace near Atlantic amid reports of plan to shoot down Chinese spy balloonUnited States officials are considering shooting down the Chinese spy balloon once it crosses over the Atlantic, according to reports.
Read more »
Chinese Spy Balloon Is Not a Spy Balloon, China SaysChina’s Foreign Ministry on Friday said the suspected spy balloon spotted over the U.S. was actually just civilian “airship” used mostly for meteorological research.
Read more »
Chinese balloon live updates: US tracking balloon as it flies across countryJUST IN: China says suspected spy balloon seen above Montana 'is of a civil nature and is used for meteorological and other scientific research.' 'The airship seriously deviated from the predetermined route,' the Chinese Foreign Ministry says.
Read more »
Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Live: Balloon violates US airspace, PentagonA reporter pressed Defense Department Spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder on the location of a Chinese surveillance balloon traveling over the central U.S. 'Does the public not have a right to know where the balloon is?' the reporter probed Friday. The latest:
Read more »