Incident Details
On February 10, 2023, the United States Air Force shot down a high-altitude object that had entered U.S. airspace over Alaska a day earlier. The interception occurred over the Beaufort Sea, where the object was brought down. The Department of Defense stated that the object was approximately the size of a small car and was flying northeast at an altitude of about 40,000 feet (12,000 meters). Officials noted that the object posed a risk to civilian flight operations.
Official Statements
Six days after the incident, on February 16, 2023, US President Joe Biden addressed the nature of the downed object. He stated that it was probably a civilian-owned balloon and "most likely tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions." No further details regarding the object's origin or purpose were provided.