Unidentified Balloon Flying Over US Poses No National Security Threat: Military

U.S. military aircraft have intercepted an unidentified high-altitude balloon flying over the continental United States, military officials have acknowledged. Fighter aircraft continue to track the balloon over the western United States though it appears to pose no immediate threat, according to a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the joint U.S.-Canada command responsible for overseeing North American airspace. “In close coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected a small balloon at an altitude varying between 43,000-45,000 ft,” the statement shared with The Epoch Times said. “The balloon was intercepted by NORAD fighters over Utah, who determined it was not maneuverable and did not present a threat to national security. NORAD will continue to track and monitor the balloon. The FAA also determined the balloon posed no hazard to flight safety. NORAD remains in close coordination with the FAA to ensure flight safety.”...