In the past week, Canadian and U.S. forces of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) have shot down three unidentified flying objects. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that a U.S. fighter jet shot down an object over the Yukon, while the U.S. took similar action over Alaska. Maj. Olivier Gallant of NORAD stated that both Canadian and U.S. jets were scrambled, with the U.S. jet shooting down the object.
The objects were believed to be a Chinese spy balloon, though the other two have not been identified. The Canadian forces will be recovering the wreckage for study. John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesman said an object, roughly the size of a small car was shot down in remote Alaska, but it is unknown if it contained any surveillance equipment, where it came from or what its purpose was. Kirby said it was shot down because it posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights.
The U.S. Navy is currently conducting survey and recovery activities on the ocean floor off South Carolina, and the Coast Guard is providing security. China has responded to the actions by reserving the right to “take further actions” and criticizing the U.S. for “an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice.”
In the past week, Canadian and U.S. forces of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) have downed three unidentified flying objects in the airspace above the U.S. and Canada. In response, the Canadian forces will be recovering the wreckage for study, while the U.S. Navy is conducting survey and recovery activities on the ocean floor off South Carolina. China has responded to the actions by reserving the right to “take further actions” and criticizing the U.S. for “an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice.”
It is unclear who sent the objects and what their purpose was, but investigations are expected to reveal more details. However, the U.S. and Canadian forces have stated that they took action to protect the safety of civilian flights, and this has been echoed by White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.