The North American Aerospace Defense Command has shot down “a high altitude airborne object” over northern Canada, Canada’s prime minister said Saturday.
Military aircraft were already operating in the area from Canada and Alaska after an unidentified object was shot down over northeastern Alaska on Friday.
Update 5:11 p.m. EST Feb. 11: Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, tweeted that he ordered the takedown of the object by a warplane.
He added that NORAD shot down the object over the Yukon Territory.
“Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object, Trudeau wrote. “I spoke with President Biden this afternoon. Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object. Thank you to NORAD for keeping the watch over North America.”
A spokesperson, Maj. Olivier Gallant, said that both Canadian and U.S. warplanes operating as part of NORAD were deployed, according to The Associated Press.
Trudeau’s disclosure came as U.S. military officials continued to search for the debris of an object shot down off the coast of northeastern Alaska near the town of Deadhorse on Friday, according to The Washington Post.
It was the third known object to have entered North American airspace in the past two weeks, the AP reported.
I spoke with President Biden this afternoon. Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object. Thank you to NORAD for keeping the watch over North America.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2023
Original report: In a statement, NORAD said it has “positively identified a high-altitude airborne object over Northern Canada.”
“Military aircraft are currently operating from Alaska and Canada in support of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) activities,” the statement said. “NORAD confirms that we have positively identified a high-altitude airborne object over Northern Canada.
“While we cannot discuss specifics related to these activities at this time, please note that NORAD conducts sustained, dispersed operations in the defense of North America through one or all three NORAD regions,” the statement said.
Breaking: NORAD says it has spotted a high-altitude airborne object over Northern Canada. Full statement via @paulanewtonCNN — pic.twitter.com/W7MZaIQcLv
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 11, 2023
NORAD did not release any other details.
The statement was first reported by CNN and Fox News Digital.
It is unclear what the object is or whether it was related to a Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot down off the South Carolina coast on Feb. 4.
On Friday, White House spokesperson John Kirby said that the U.S. downed an object in northeastern Alaska, which was described as being the size of a small car.
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