The U.S. is reportedly preparing to shoot down the alleged Chinese spy balloon off the coast of the Carolinas.
JUST IN: The U.S. reportedly preparing to shoot down Chinese spy balloon off the coast of the Carolinas.
— DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) February 4, 2023
🚨BREAKING: The U.S. is reportedly preparing to shoot down Chinese Spy Balloon off the coast of the Carolinas
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 4, 2023
F-16s have reportedly taken off from the air base near Columbia, South Carolina, heading east towards the Chinese surveillance balloon.
🚨#BREAKING: F-16s have taken off from Columbia air base in South Carolina, heading east towards the Chinese surveillance balloon pic.twitter.com/nyP4sx9YPh
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 4, 2023
There’s also reported footage of F-22 fighter jets circling the balloon above Conway, South Carolina.
USAF F-22 fighter jets circling the Chinese spy balloon above Conway, South Carolina. pic.twitter.com/VoWcRWNSqB
— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 4, 2023
Additional footage allegedly from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Video of Chinese balloon with fighters from Myrtle Beach, SC #ChineseSpyBalloon #Balloon pic.twitter.com/YKFvPfZ3dd
— Darcy Sneed (@DarcySneed) February 4, 2023
The FAA has blocked off airspace off the coast of North and South Carolina.
The airspace is being cleared along the coast of the Carolinas as officials reportedly consider shooting down the Chinese surveillance balloon.
🚨#BREAKING: The FAA has blocked the airspace off the coast of North and South Carolina
Currently the US airspace is being cleared along North Carolina and South Carolina coast as officials getting prepared to shoot down Chinese surveillance balloon pic.twitter.com/CKhy1g4Ipj
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 4, 2023
The FAA also issued a ground stop for three airports in the Carolinas.
The FAA has issued a ground stop for three airports in the Carolinas for a “national security effort,” as a suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts through the area. https://t.co/x6h4uAwImE
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 4, 2023
From CNN:
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a ground stop for three airports in the Carolinas as a suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts through the area, a spokesperson confirmed in a statement.
The administration also restricted airspace near Myrtle Beach between 12:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. ET. for “national defense airspace.”
The affected airports are in Wilmington, North Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
“The FAA has paused departures from and arrivals to Wilmington (ILM), Myrtle Beach International (MYR) and Charleston International (CHS) airports to support the Department of Defense in a national security effort,” the FAA said in a statement.
The agency has also closed airspace.
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) February 4, 2023
Fox News reported:
The U.S. is considering a plan to shoot down the Chinese spy balloon once it crosses over the Atlantic Ocean, where it could fall without causing harm to anyone below and potentially be recovered, a senior U.S. official told Fox News.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a ground stop at three airports and closed airspace in parts of North and South Carolina effective until 2:45 E.T., citing “national security initiatives” in the area.
Officials said it is unclear if President Biden has made a final decision on the plan, The Associated Press reported earlier. Biden addressed the balloon briefly Saturday in response to a reporter’s question, saying, “we’re going to take care of it.”
The surveillance balloon was most recently seen flying over the southeastern United States Saturday, spotted in parts of North and South Carolina as it made its way toward the Atlantic coast.
Stay tuned for additional updates!
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