U.S. Navy combing 7-mile debris field for downed Chinese spy balloon

The balloon was shot down Saturday afternoon by a single missile from a F-22 fighter jet. Some lawmakers are praising President Biden for downing the suspected surveillance craft, while others are criticizing him for waiting too long to act. Now the race is on to retrieve what remains of the balloon.

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[kilik]

They didn't acknowledge it until it was noticed by civilians.

[humbertsmith]

The problem with shooting down a Chinese balloon is that half an hour later you'll want to shoot another one.

[steveo]

Civilian aircraft or not it shouldn't have been over U.S. airspace.

[edadlawan]

It’s trespassing in the United States territory. Subject to punishment.

[GRehillMusic]

"Briefly over Canada"

Lol I don't think she can wrap her head around how big canada is lol

[jessegoforth]

It's amazing how people worry about a balloon from China but not the tiktok that's in their hand that they're watching

[nicoleblakley]

If it was just a weather balloon or "civilian" use balloon China should have notified countries that could have impact from it.

[grammyg.]

Prevention of allowing it to enter the U.S. would of been better ... foresight not hindsight ...

[chilogutierrez]

How embarrassing if they can’t find it

[Jason-ftoy]

Civilian or not, it had no business in our air space.

[scottcasey]

I don't think China would like us flying a balloon in their country.

[nikiyen]

I don't understand how people heard the "boom" at the same time they saw the expolsion. The speed of sound is 1000 ft/s and this was 60, 000 feet away, so the boom should have only been heard one minute after the explosion was seen.

[rbarron]

Shot down now? What for? It went across the country already!! 😂😂

[eluteriomillan]

Great job now gather all the data within that craft

[greybeard]

Why didn't they shoot down the 3 that entered U.S. airspace when Trump was in office?

[elijahbey]

Why did they wait until the balloon's mission was completed before shooting it down?

[ronaldcole]

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman! No, it's a balloon.., pop!

[mag-kameleon]

Why did we see or hear of it first from a citizen, not military ?

[shellysmith]

blowing it up over saltwater is not exactly the best. Seemed like the worst option if you want to recover anything usable.

[Tennessee]

Well done China. It made it coast to coast. I'm sure the big guy got his 10%.