US intercepts small balloon over Utah, determines it’s not a threat

The U.S. military
intercepted a small balloon over the state of Utah on Friday and
determined that it posed no threat to civil aviation or to
national security, a U.S. official told Reuters.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the
balloon also was incapable of maneuvering itself as it traveled
at an altitude of between 43,000 and 45,000 feet (13,100 and
13,700 meters). The official did not offer further details about
the balloon, including whether it might have been a simple hobby
balloon.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command did not
immediately respond to a request for comment.
In February 2023, an American fighter jet off the coast of
South Carolina shot down what the Pentagon said was a Chinese
spy balloon capable of collecting intelligence over the United
States. U.S. officials said that balloon could self-maneuver.