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U.S. military shoots down ‘high-altitude object’ over Alaska: But what was it?

Chris Graham
Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder
Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder. Photo: Department of Defense

A U.S. fighter jet shot down a “high-altitude object” the size of a small car off the Northern coast of Alaska on Thursday, and the military has begun recovery operations.

The Pentagon said today that the object does not resemble in any way the Chinese spy balloon shot down last week off the coast of South Carolina.

Two F-22s flying out of Joint Base Elmendorf in Alaska, took down the object, according to a statement from the Department of Defense.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command had detected the object on Thursday using ground radar and sent aircraft to identify the object.

The pilots ascertained that the object was unmanned.

The military determined that the object, which was flying at an altitude of 40,000 feet, posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight,” Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said.

Civilian airliners typically fly between 40,000 and 45,000 feet.

President Biden ordered Northern Command to shoot down the object, Ryder said.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019, and Team of Destiny: Inside Virginia Basketball’s Run to the 2019 National Championship, and The Worst Wrestling Pay-Per-View Ever, published in 2018. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].