US military's F-22 jet downs unknown object flying off Alaska coast using an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, officials say, just six days after downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon
Object was downed because it was flying at about 40,000 feet and posed"reasonable threat" to safety of civilian flights, not because of any knowledge that it was engaged in surveillance, says White House.A US fighter jet has shot down an unidentified object drifting high over Alaska, the White House said, just six days after the downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon sparked a fresh diplomatic rift with Beijing.
The object was brought down using an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile fired from a F-22 jet, the Pentagon said. The incident took place amid a new alarm over what US officials say is an ongoing programme by China to fly surveillance balloons to collect intelligence around the world. The Chinese balloon last week sparked particular concern as it overflew areas where the United States keeps nuclear missiles in underground silos and bases strategic bombers.
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