Pentagon: Second Chinese Spy Balloon Spotted Over Latin America

Pentagon officials Friday night said that another Chinese spy balloon was currently flying over Latin America.

“We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America. We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon,” Pentagon spokesperson Brig. General Pat Ryder made the statement.

Additional Information about the balloon He stated that the location was not available.

After Pentagon officials had announced on Thursday that a second balloon was being reported, the Pentagon said that it had been seen flying above sensitive areas in the west US in order to collect information.

Senior Pentagon officials said that the US is “confident” This aircraft is from China.

Biden was asked for military options after being briefed. Fighter jets — including F-22s — were prepared to shoot down the balloon, but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has so far advised against it to prevent debris from potentially causing destruction and casualties on the ground.

On Thursday the balloon was seen over 60,000 feet above Montana — home to one of America’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base. It continued its journey east, and was seen over Kansas City, Missouri on Friday.

“While we won’t get into specifics in regards to the exact location, I can tell you that the balloon continues to move eastward and is currently over the center of the continental United States,” Ryder stated Friday that the balloon would likely fly over US airspace. “a few days.”

Ryder described the balloon like “maneuverable,” It is important to note that “has changed its course, which is again why we’re monitoring it.” He stated that military officials would continue to evaluate their capabilities. “options,” It is possible to take it down at some point.

Friday’s denial by the Chinese Foreign Ministry denied that the balloon was being used for surveillance. It claimed that the object was a civilian weather instrument, which had lost its course. “intention of violating the territory and airspace of any sovereign country.”

Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, was forced to cancel his trip to China by the controversy. He is scheduled to leave China on Monday.

Online speculation arose about the possibility that a balloon was shot from the sky after a viral video showing what appears to be an explosion in Billings, Montana on Friday night. 

However, authorities were not able to confirm the contents of the video nor reach the Twitter user It was posted by who? The city officials confirmed the information. KULR8 There were no reports of any plane crashes or explosions within, around, or across Montana. The video’s legitimacy is being verified by law enforcement.