The US aircraft intercepted an "unidentified high-altitude balloon" while it was flying over Utah. When the balloon was reported at an altitude of 44,000 feet (13,400 meters), the United States immediately sent fighter jets to inspect it.
On February 23, a U.S. fighter plane intercepted a "balloon of unknown height" in Utah, USA.
The North American Air Force Command released a report saying that the balloon was intercepted by a fighter jet at an altitude of 43,000 to 45,000 feet, saying:"We believe that the balloon is out of control and poses no danger to the security of our country. "The Federal Aviation Administration also confirmed that the balloons did not jeopardize the safety of the flight, while the North American Air Force Command said they would track and monitor the balloons.
A U.S. official said the "balloon" appeared to be made of polyester film, about 50 feet high, and contained a small three-dimensional box at the bottom, about 2 inches long.
According to the report, it is not clear where the "balloon" came from and what it contains, but two American ** said that at the beginning, this "balloon" did not come from any ** agency. Other news quoted U.S. weather experts as saying that the "balloon" appeared to have nothing to do with the U.S. Weather Bureau's observations.