On February 23, the U.S. North American Air Defense (NORAD) Command intercepted a balloon currently flying above the Western United States.
In a statement, NORAD said both it and the Federal Aviation Administration detected and tracked a small balloon at an altitude between 43,000 to 45,000 feet. NORAD sent two fighter jets that intercepted and monitored the balloon over Utah. The statement said they will continue to track the monitor balloon as it moves through the region.
NORAD did not say what country the balloon originated from or that the balloon was not maneuverable and did not present a national security threat. The FAA also determined that the balloon posed no hazard to flight safety. Both organizations will coordinate to ensure flight safety in the airspace the balloon will move through.
