The US Air Force (USAF) again shot down a floating flying object that invaded US airspace on February 9, the Pentagon said.
Although he did not give details about the type of aircraft, it would be a kind of cylindrical balloon with the dimensions of a small car, according to sources.
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The Northern Command (NORTHCOM) deployed Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighters based in Anchorage to intercept and shoot down the object as it flew at an altitude of around 40,000 feet (about 12,000 m), the level where civilian aircraft also travel.
One of the F-22s fired an AIM-9X Sidewinder heat-guided air-to-air missile that brought the object down over water.
Unlike the Chinese surveillance balloon that crossed North America last week, the origin of the flying object cannot be determined nor what type of mission it was undertaking.
“The object was flying at an altitude of 40,000 feet and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.
“We have HC-130, HH-60 and CH-47 aircraft participating in that recovery,” the press secretary said.
