Watch Live: US Restricts Airspace Near Myrtle Beach For “National Defense Airspace” Operation
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Update (1441ET):
US fighter jets have shot down the Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast.
The best view so far of the spy balloon being shot down.
Best video so far of the Chinese spy balloon being shot down pic.twitter.com/MrWB403OqJ
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) February 4, 2023
The balloon is falling back to Earth.
Here comes the recovery vessel.
The USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) (along with numerous skipper sized surface craft, I assume) is arriving in the splashdown zone for balloon recovery. pic.twitter.com/dq7lWrHzKm
— The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) February 4, 2023
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Update (1330ET):
Shortly after President Biden reportedly said, “we are going to take care of it,” referring to the Chinese spy balloon that is calmly drifting across US airspace, the FAA has shut down three airports and closed airspace in parts of North and South Carolina:
Fighter jets are circling the spy balloon.
F-22s returning after a brief holding orbit. pic.twitter.com/bRZ6uq7Knl
— The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) February 4, 2023
CCP balloon over North Myrtle Beach ‼️ Jets are circling ‼️ pic.twitter.com/BaG5VasQUp
— SouthernFried (@southenFried) February 4, 2023
Video of what appears to be fighter, jets circling the China balloon above Conway, South Carolina pic.twitter.com/lvjW6WX2Gp
— Andy Shain (@AndyShain) February 4, 2023
A US military surveillance plane is circling offshore of North Carolina.
A vessel with a large crane might be headed to an area where the military might shoot down the balloon.
The USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) is headed south from Beaufort, NC. May be used for balloon recovery efforts. Ship has a 30 ton crane on board. pic.twitter.com/nsCYQ1Tpqb
— The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) February 4, 2023
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A suspected Chinese surveillance balloon appears to be heading toward North Carolina, according to ABC News, citing a senior US official familiar with the situation. That official said the US would probably shoot the balloon down over the Atlantic Ocean and retrieve it.
Within the last hour, numerous Twitter users have uploaded footage of what appears to be the Chinese balloon floating above North Carolina.
Chinese balloon over Shelby North Carolina at 9:35 AM. Moving west south west. pic.twitter.com/EEj8vGk6La
— Anne Eskridge (@AnneEskridge1) February 4, 2023
Here’s the #ChineseSpyBallon over Easley, SC around 8:45am this AM. The trajectory forecast I posted last night seems right on. The balloon should be visible anywhere in southern North Carolina and northern South Carolina at some point over the next 6-8 hours. 📸 Jason McDowell. pic.twitter.com/6hspFrIXqG
— Ed Piotrowski (@EdPiotrowski) February 4, 2023
Chinese Spy Balloon currently SW of Polkville NC approximately over Kingston NC 9:44 AM #ChinaSpyBalloon @wxbrad pic.twitter.com/8OjdDwsgmN
— Brian Branch (@BrianBranch13) February 4, 2023
Local police tell residents don’t shoot their guns at the giant balloon.
The Gastonia Police Department is asking residents to not shoot at the Chinese spy balloon if it flies over North Carolina pic.twitter.com/lD9VkI299M
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) February 4, 2023
On Friday, we cited Capital Weather Gang, who accurately predicted the balloon’s trajectory while it was floating above the Midwest. Now updated predictions for Saturday morning show the balloon might be headed toward the Atlantic.
The balloon’s payload is approximately 90 feet long, or the length of two motorhomes, and the balloon itself is much larger. Here’s one of the clearest views of the balloon.
And there might be more balloons. We noted last night:
“We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America,” Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, told Fox News Friday night. “We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon.”
US officials have not ruled out shooting the balloon down. That might happen as soon as the balloon moves offshore into the Atlantic. Time for Space Force to shine.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 02/04/2023 – 14:41
