The skies over the United States have been abuzz with activity recently, as a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon has been spotted flying through the air. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a ground stop to three U.S. airports and closed additional airspace. President Joe Biden has also given the go-ahead for a plan to bring down the balloon and recover its remains.
China has acknowledged that the high-altitude balloon belongs to Beijing, but has referred to it as a civilian device “used for scientific research such as meteorology” that blew off-course. Reports of a second balloon have also been spotted over Latin America.
The incident has raised questions about the implications of Chinese surveillance technology and the security of the United States. It is a reminder of the importance of being vigilant and aware of the potential threats that exist both in the air and on the ground.
The FAA has suspended arrivals and departures from Wilmington International Airport, Myrtle Beach International Airport and Charleston International Airport until at least 2:45 p.m. on Saturday. The agency has also closed additional airspace to support the Department of Defense in a national security effort.
It remains to be seen how the Biden administration will address the situation and what the implications of the balloon’s presence will be. This is a developing story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
Source: www.cbsnews.com