Pentagon releases close-up photo of Chinese spy balloon one day before it was shot down

23 February 2023, 10:14

The air balloon was shot down on February 3 as it flew over the US
The air balloon was shot down on February 3 as it flew over the US. Picture: US Pentagon
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

The Pentagon has released a close-up photo of the Chinese spy balloon just one day before the American Air Force shot it down.

The photo, taken on February 3, shows the top of the pilot's helmet inside the U-2 cockpit as the balloon glides above mainland America.

The US had hesitated to shoot the balloon down because of the risks to people on the ground from falling debris.

The balloon was eventually shot down on February 4 once it had moved away from land and towards the ocean.

The picture was taken one day before it was shot down by the American Air force
The picture was taken one day before it was shot down by the American Air force. Picture: US Pentagon

More unidentified objects were seen in US skies the week after, but Joe Biden said they did not appear to be used for spying and instead were "likely" to be linked to private companies.

Read more: Chinese balloon sensor recovered from the ocean, US says, with hunt for others ongoing as Beijing denies spy claims

Read More: Three UFOs shot down by US were not spy balloons, says Biden

The president vowed to develop “sharper rules” to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects after a Chinese spy balloon was tracked in American airspace.

The US spy balloon was shot down over the ocean
The US spy balloon was shot down over the ocean. Picture: Alamy

Mr Biden said he made no apology for protecting US skies but added: "We are not looking for a new Cold War with China."

"We don't yet know exactly what these three objects were, but nothing nothing right now suggests they were related to China's spy balloon programme, or they were surveillance vehicles from other any other country," he said. 

President Joe Biden speaks about the United States response to the high-altitude Chinese spy balloon and three other unidentified objects that were recently shot down
President Joe Biden speaks about the United States response to the high-altitude Chinese spy balloon and three other unidentified objects that were recently shot down. Picture: Getty

Read more: 'There is no indication of aliens': White House shoots down connection between UFOs and extra terrestrial activity

"The intelligence community's current assessment is that these three objects were most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions, studying weather, or conducting other scientific research."

China has denied claims the balloon was surveillance, insisting it was instead an "out of control" weather balloon.

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