A suspected Chinese spy balloon was ordered by US President Joe Biden to be taken down off Myrtle Beach, South Carolina after reportedly flying over sensitive military locations on Sunday, Feb. 5.
The US Navy shot down the balloon and dropped it down from a height of 60,00 feet so that it would not pose unnecessary risks to civilians on the ground.
Now, we get a closer look at how the aircraft was taken down after the US Fleet Forces Command shared images of the balloon's debris on its official Facebook page.
EODGRU 2
The takedown operation was given to sailors of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Group 2 (EODGRU 2). The Navy said that this is a crucial part of its Expeditionary Combat Force that is tasked with clearing explosive hazards to provide access to denied areas.
They are responsible for securing the undersea domain to ensure freedom of movement, build relationships with trusted partners, and protect the country in general.
"At the direction of the President of the United States and with the full support of the Government of Canada, US fighter aircraft under US Northern Command authority engaged and brought down a high altitude surveillance balloon within sovereign US airspace and over US territorial waters Feb. 4, 2023," the Navy wrote in its Facebook post.
"Active duty, Reserve, National Guard, and civilian personnel planned and executed the operation, and partners from the U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Aviation Administration, and Federal Bureau of Investigation ensured public safety throughout the operation and recovery efforts. "
Flying White Object
The flying white object was spotted Saturday morning on Feb. 4 as it traveled toward the Atlantic coast over South Carolina's coast. According to senior defense officials, an F-22 fighter jet's missile took down the balloon while it was around six nautical miles off the coast near Myrtle Beach.
The debris was spread for nearly seven miles and fell in water about 47 feet deep. Officials reported that the recovery activities were finished in just a few days.
US defense officials said that the balloon first traveled to the US air defense zone north of the Aleutian Islands on January 28. After that, it crossed over land across Alaska before reaching Canadian airspace in the Northwest Territories.
Biden was immediately briefed about the balloon sighting and the White House said that it returned to US territory over northern Idaho on Jan. 30.
The balloon was once again spotted on Feb. 1 over Montana where Malmstrom Air Force Base is located and houses several nuclear missile silos.
The balloon's sighting stoked further division between the US and China. It also came at a time when Secretary of State Antony Blinken delayed a diplomatic trip to Beijing.
China responded to the takedown saying that it reserved the right to take action and accused the US of committing a "violation of international practice."
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