US tracks high-altitude balloon over Midwest

The US is tracking a high-altitude hot air balloon over the Midwest, but it is unclear whether the balloon poses a threat, officials said.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said officials were tracking a small balloon at about 43,000 to 45,000 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also helps track the balloon.

NORAD fighter jets flew over Utah and determined it was “not maneuverable and posed no threat to national security.”

“NORAD will continue to monitor and track the balloon. The FAA has also determined that the balloon does not pose a risk to flight safety,” officials said in a statement. “NORAD remains in close coordination with the FAA to ensure flight safety.”

The incident comes just over a year after China flew a spy balloon over the US mainland before a US fighter jet shot it out of the sky off South Carolina.

Beijing has denied the balloon was used for reconnaissance, despite Washington indicating it had antennas and other tracking equipment. China has also flown spy balloons over Taiwan and other countries in a campaign the US says is global in scope.

Last year's Chinese spy balloon incident has soured relations between the US and China, which have stabilized slightly since President Biden met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November.

The Chinese spy balloon also forced NORAD to modify radars to look for more potential threats in high-altitude areas.