The Biden administration on Saturday shot down a large Chinese balloon suspected of conducting surveillance on the American military.
This comes as the airspace along the coast of North and South Carolina had been closed amid the national security operation.
BALLOON IS DOWN. I REPEAT. THE BALLOON IS DOWN. pic.twitter.com/O7VI9u3rzf
— The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) February 4, 2023
US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that President Joe Biden had given the green light for the operation to go ahead.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop affecting three airports in North and South Carolina as the balloon drifts through its airspace, a spokesperson said.
“The FAA has paused departures to Wilmington (ILM), Myrtle Beach International (MYR) and Charleston International (CHS) airports to support the Department of Defense in a national security effort,” the statement said.
