(Atlantic Ocean, off U.S.) The US military successfully shot-down the alleged Chinese spy balloon that was spotted earlier in the week. CBS News reported that the balloon was shot-down by fighter jets in U.S. airspace at 1:39PM (Central Time) over the Atlantic Ocean near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Many government officials and citizens were concerned about what the surveillance balloon was gathering. It reportedly was maneuverable, and its slow path took if over several military bases in the mainland. It's path was charted on radar and it appears to have floated over parts of East Tennessee.
As debris started to fall on the beach, the Horry County, South Carolina government said, "Officials were picking-up the debris and that it should not be gathered by the public for souvenirs. Such items are part of a federal investigation and tampering could interfere with that investigation."
On Wednesday (2/1/2023) President Biden allegedly gave the green light for the Department of Defense to shoot down the Chinese balloon as soon as falling debris would not pose a threat to people. They waited until Saturday afternoon (2/4/2023) when it was on the US east coast and about to float over the Atlantic Ocean.
The balloon reportedly had large antennas, cameras and was estimated to be the size of three school buses. It was floating at approximately 60,000 feet in the air, almost 12-miles above the earth.
In a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry, "China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and protest against the US's use of force to attack civilian unmanned aircraft."
Reports indicate that earlier last week, the Federal Aviation Administration was instructed to create plans to close-down airspace if needed. The federal government evidently planned to shoot down the balloon when it was over the ocean.
People are now questioning why the balloon was not shot-down earlier as it drifted over the Aleutian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and then over the icy wilderness of Canada before it began to float over populated areas of the lower 48.
The Chinese foreign ministry says, "We regret the unintended entry of a weather balloon into U.S. airspace."
Now, there is a report of a second balloon floating over Latin America.
