Second UFO Shootdown in Two Days by U.S. Fighter Jet in Joint Operation with Canada Amid Heightened North American Alert
In a joint operation between the United States and Canada, a U.S. F-22 fighter jet shot down an unidentified cylindrical object that was flying over northern Canada on Saturday. The shootdown was carried out on the orders of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and marks the second instance in as many days, amid heightened alert levels in North America due to a recent week-long incident involving a suspected Chinese spying balloon.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the shootdown, stating that the object was shot down over the Yukon, a Canadian territory. He added that Canadian forces will recover and analyze the wreckage and that he spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday afternoon.
Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand refrained from speculating on the source of the object. The Pentagon said that the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected the object over Alaska late on Friday and U.S. fighter jets from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska monitored it as it crossed over into Canadian airspace.
As the investigation continues, questions still remain about the identity and origin of the mysterious object, which has been described as cylindrical in shape. The joint operation by the United States and Canada and the subsequent shootdown of the object highlights the continued collaboration and readiness of the two North American neighbours in ensuring the safety and security of their airspace.
Shootdown in the Yukon Territory
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the shootdown over the northern Yukon territory, stating that Canadian forces would recover and analyze the wreckage. Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand declined to speculate about the origin of the object but described it as cylindrical in shape and smaller than the Chinese balloon shot down off South Carolina’s coast a week prior.
Collaboration between U.S. and Canadian Authorities
The Pentagon stated that the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected the object over Alaska on Friday. Fighter jets from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, U.S.A., kept an eye on the object as it entered into Canadian airspace, and Canadian CF-18 and CP-140 aircraft joined the formation to monitor the object. The U.S. F-22 fighter jet shot down the object in Canadian territory using an AIM 9X missile. The decision was taken after close coordination between the U.S. and Canadian authorities.
U.S President Biden’s Authorization
U.S. President Joe Biden authorized the U.S. military to work with Canada to take down the high-altitude object after a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The White House stated that Biden and Trudeau agreed to continue close coordination to defend their airspace. The leaders also talked about the significance of retrieving the object to uncover additional information about its intended purpose or source.
Earlier Shootdown in Alaska
A Day earlier, Biden had ordered another shootdown of an unidentified flying object near Deadhorse, Alaska. The U.S. military remained tight-lipped about what it had learned as recovery efforts were underway on the Alaskan sea ice. The Pentagon had earlier stated that the object was the size of a small car, was flying at about 40,000 feet, could not maneuver, and appeared to be unmanned.
U.S. officials have been attempting to gather more information about the object since it was initially sighted on Thursday. However, they have not released any further details about the object, including its capabilities, purpose, or origin. The U.S. personnel have been scouring the ocean to recover debris from the Chinese surveillance balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina. The Pentagon has stated that a significant amount of the balloon has already been recovered or located, suggesting that American officials may soon have more information about any Chinese espionage capabilities aboard.