A balloon intercepted by fighter aircraft over Utah on Friday was a "likely hobby balloon" and has since left United States airspace, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said Saturday. "After yesterday's fighter intercepts, and in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the North American Aerospace Defense Command monitored the likely hobby balloon via ground radars until it left US airspace overnight," NORAD said in a statement on Saturday. "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 said in a statement on Friday. That incident created tensions between the United States and China that have only recently improved. High-altitude balloon intercepted by US fighters over Utah a 'likely hobby balloon': NORAD originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Source: ABC News February 25, 2024 00:48 UTC