US military aircraft have intercepted a high-altitude balloon flying over the western part of the country and determined it was non-threatening.
The small object is not manoeuvrable and presents no hazard to flight safety, US officials said, though its origin and purpose were unknown.
The aircraft was spotted on Friday over Colorado and Utah, drifting east.
Last year, the US shot down a Chinese balloon after it crossed the country from Alaska to the east coast.
Friday’s object, detected floating around 44,000ft (13,400m), prompted US officials to scramble fighter jets to investigate.
Norad, the military command responsible for air defence over the US and Canada, said its fighter jets intercepted the balloon over Utah.
A statement from Norad said that it would continue to track and monitor the balloon.
The Federal Aviation Administration has determined the aircraft poses no hazard to flight safety, according to Norad.
The balloon was expected to be over Georgia by Friday night, an unnamed official told CBS News, the BBC’s US media partner.
The source said the aircraft was made of a type of polyester film called Mylar, with a small cube-shaped box suspended beneath it.
Last February’s balloon episode sparked a diplomatic crisis between Washington and Beijing.
The Chinese authorities had denied it was a spy aircraft, describing it as a weather ship blown astray.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled a trip to China, calling the airship’s presence an “irresponsible act”.
An F-22 jet fighter destroyed that balloon off the coast of South Carolina.
Source: BBC NEWS
