Washington D.C.: The US Air Force released the picture of the ‘Chinese gray balloon’ that was shot down on February 4. The picture taken from the plane used to monitor the balloon was released. The image shows a huge balloon and electronic panels below it.
Suspecting that it was a Chinese spy balloon, US planes were dispatched to shoot it down. However, China claims that it is a weather observation balloon that has gone astray. After this, US-China relations further deteriorated.
The balloon was launched on February 4 by F-22 fighter jets. Debris of a balloon that crashed into the ocean near South Carolina has been recovered, the US said. The remains, including the panel, were found by searching with ships and boats. These have been handed over to the FBI for investigation.
After this, the US fired three more balloons. The balloons were shot in Alaska, Canada border region and Lake Huron. They are smaller than first found.
At the same time, US President Joe Biden responded on February 16 that it is not possible to say whether the balloons are part of China’s spy program or belong to any other country. Biden also said that more balloons of the same type were found as the radar surveillance intensified.