A mysterious high-altitude balloon that U.S. officials were tracking over the Rocky Mountains on Friday was a “likely hobby balloon” that is now believed to have left U.S. airspace, officials said Saturday. The balloon has since left U.S. airspace, officials said Saturday. By Luis Martinez and Matt Seyler. February 24, 2024, 10:34 AM.
The U.S. military is monitoring an unidentified balloon flying over the western U.S., according to two officials and a defense official. The balloon was detected by a military aircraft over Colorado Friday morning. It was a strange and unexpected sight that left many scratching their heads in confusion.
A balloon the US was tracking across the country has now left US airspace and was likely a “hobby balloon,” NORAD said in a statement. While the balloon did not pose any immediate threat, the fact that its origin and purpose remained unknown raised concerns among authorities.
Well, one of the strangest occurrences of 2023 over North America is apparently back again... maybe... as another large balloon was spotted floating at a high altitude over the Midwest. The U.S. is tracking a high-altitude balloon over the Midwest, but it's not clear whether the balloon is a threat, officials said.
Defense officials say there is no threat from a high-altitude balloon that floated across parts of the western U.S., including parts of Utah. A small balloon floating at a high altitude over the US state of Utah was intercepted by fighter aircraft on Friday but deemed to pose no danger to national security.
The balloon's erratic flight path and high altitude initially raised concerns about a possible security threat. However, after further investigation, it was determined that the balloon was most likely a harmless recreational balloon. Despite this, the lack of information surrounding its origin and purpose remains a cause for concern.
The sudden appearance and disappearance of the balloon have left authorities puzzled and on high alert. The U.S. military continues to monitor the situation closely to ensure that there are no further security risks associated with the mysterious balloon.
Although the balloon has now left U.S. airspace, the incident has prompted a review of security protocols to better handle similar situations in the future. The need for improved surveillance and response measures has become evident in light of this puzzling event.
