Current:Home > MarketsU.S. tracking high-altitude balloon first spotted off Hawaii coast -ValueCore
U.S. tracking high-altitude balloon first spotted off Hawaii coast
View
Date:2025-04-13 13:28:11
The U.S. military is tracking a high-altitude balloon that was observed off the coast of Hawaii over the weekend, officials said Monday. The balloon's owner is unknown, but there were no indications it was maneuvering or being controlled by a foreign actor.
The balloon was detected and observed floating at approximately 36,000 feet above the Pacific on April 28. It did not directly pass over sensitive sites or defense critical infrastructure, according to U.S. officials.
One official said the object did not pose a military or physical threat to people on the ground, nor did it pose a risk to civil aviation over Hawaii despite its altitude. NBC News first reported its detection earlier Monday.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin agreed with the recommendation of his military commanders that no action need be taken against the object, but the U.S. military continues to track it, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, according to a Defense Department spokesman.
The object is now out of Hawaii's airspace and not above U.S. territorial waters, an official said.
The balloon sighting comes months after a Chinese spy balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina after traversing the U.S., sparking a diplomatic confrontation that prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a planned trip to China.
There were a number of other incidents involving mysterious flying objects around the same time. Three objects were shot down over the U.S. and Canada, but were never recovered. At the time, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. did not detect that any of the objects were sending communications signals before they were shot down. The U.S. also assessed that they showed no signs of self-propulsion or maneuvering and were not manned, he said.
President Biden addressed the incidents on Feb. 16, saying the three unidentified objects were not believed to be part of China's expansive spy balloon program.
Following the detection of those objects earlier this year, the Defense Department and FAA established new parameters for monitoring U.S. airspace, which led to the detection of the balloon over the weekend.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre referred questions about the latest balloon to the Defense Department during Monday's press briefing.
- In:
- Hawaii
CBS News reporter covering the Pentagon.
TwitterveryGood! (22)
Related
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Looking for a New Everyday Tote? Save 58% On This Bag From Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James
- DWTS’ Peta Murgatroyd and Maks Chmerkovskiy Share Baby Boy’s Name and First Photo
- Renting a home may be more financially prudent than buying one, experts say
- 'Most Whopper
- Hilaria Baldwin Admits She's Sometimes Alec Baldwin's Mommy
- What to know about the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio
- A Tesla driver was killed after smashing into a firetruck on a California highway
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- A Bankruptcy Judge Lets Blackjewel Shed Coal Mine Responsibilities in a Case With National Implications
Ranking
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Billie Eilish Shares How Body-Shaming Comments Have Impacted Her Mental Health
- Lottery scams to watch out for as Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots soars
- Missing Sub Passenger Stockton Rush's Titanic Connection Will Give You Chills
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Twitter's new data access rules will make social media research harder
- Amazon Prime Day Is Starting Early With This Unreal Deal on the Insignia Fire TV With 5,500+ Rave Reviews
- Titanic Sub Search: Details About Missing Hamish Harding’s Past Exploration Experience Revealed
Recommendation
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
André Leon Talley's belongings, including capes and art, net $3.5 million at auction
Looking to Reduce Emissions, Apparel Makers Turn to Their Factories in the Developing World
A Tesla driver was killed after smashing into a firetruck on a California highway
McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
Super Bowl commercials, from Adam Driver(s) to M&M candies; the hits and the misses
How Biden's latest student loan forgiveness differs from debt relief blocked by Supreme Court
An activist group is spreading misinformation to stop solar projects in rural America