The U.S. military shot down a high altitude object over Alaska, according to National Security Council spokesman Adm. John Kirby.
“WH’s Kirby: The Pentagon was tracking a high altitude object at 40K feet over Alaska; out of abundance of caution President Biden ordered it to be downed. It came down within US territorial waters. Fighter aircraft took it down within the last hour.”
WH's Kirby: The Pentagon was tracking a high altitude object at 40K feet over Alaska; out of abundance of caution President Biden ordered it to be downed. It came down within US territorial waters. Fighter aircraft took it down within the last hour.
— Margaret Brennan (@margbrennan) February 10, 2023
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“Kirby: “We’re calling this an ‘object’ because that’s the best description we have right now. We don’t know who owns it” – state, corporation or other entity. Recovery of debris expected. It was “roughly the size of a small car” with “no significant payload”…The object did not appear to have the maneuverable capability of the Chinese spy balloon. It was ordered downed over concerns it posed a reasonable threat to civilian flight, Kirby says”
The object did not appear to have the maneuverable capability of the Chinese spy balloon. It was ordered downed over concerns it posed a reasonable threat to civilian flight, Kirby says
— Olivia Gazis (@Olivia_Gazis) February 10, 2023
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BREAKING: U.S. fighter jets have taken out a "high-altitude object" that was over Alaska airspace within the last hour, NSC's John Kirby says. https://t.co/oyooKtAQuo pic.twitter.com/G6YBLX0GE2
— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) February 10, 2023
Kirby says the object was shot down over northern Alaska near the Canadian border on frozen water.
Kirby says the US does not know who owns the object.
VIDEO:
John Kirby to NBC's @KellyO on a "high-altitude object" being shot down over U.S. air space in Alaska: "[T]he President absolutely was involved in this decision. He ordered it…We're calling this an object b/c that's the best description we have rn. We do not know who owns it" pic.twitter.com/nuYTyWceDE
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 10, 2023
“Was its appearance like the Chinese aircraft?” NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell asked Kirby.
John Kirby: “No, it was — it was much, much smaller than the spy balloon that we took down last Saturday. The way it was described to me was roughly the size of a small car.”
VIDEO:
NBC's @KellyO: "Was its appearance like the Chinese aircraft?"
John Kirby: "No, it was — it was much, much smaller than the spy balloon that we took down last Saturday. The way it was described to me was roughly the size of a small car." pic.twitter.com/oK3rx5ZLJc
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 10, 2023
Kelly O’Donnell asked Kirby, “Is it now the policy…if unidentified aircraft are over U.S. territory that it is likely the President will…shoot it down?
NBC's @KellyO: "Is it now the policy…if unidentified aircraft are over U.S. territory that it is likely the President will…shoot it down?
Kirby: Biden "will always act in the best interest of our national security and in the safety and security of the American people." pic.twitter.com/rkcioBI149
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 10, 2023
