Fishermen Discover Suspicious Object Off Alaska Coast

Commercial fishermen off the coast of Alaska have come across what officials fear may be a spy balloon. They are currently bringing it back to shore with them, according to three sources familiar with the situation.

FBI agents are scheduled to meet the fishing vessel when it docks over the weekend. The mysterious object will then be taken to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia for further analysis, following the same procedure as with previous surveillance balloons.

The fishmen came across an object and shared photos of it with law enforcement. They weren't sure what it was, suggesting it might not be a balloon. However, the FBI thought it looked like a surveillance balloon owned by a foreign government and decided to investigate further.

CNN couldn't figure out which fishing boat was involved. The FBI chose not to provide any comments.

High-altitude surveillance balloons became a hot topic in the US last year after a Chinese spy balloon drifted off course and crossed the continental US through Alaskan airspace. According to CNN, American officials believed that the spy balloon was linked to a large surveillance operation by the Chinese military.

US officials revealed that the Chinese balloon fleet had carried out over twenty missions on five different continents in recent years.

China temporarily halted the program after the incident, and it is uncertain if it has resumed. Taiwan accused Beijing of sending multiple balloons through its airspace in January.

The Biden administration took down the balloon that crossed over the US in February. In response, the US expanded its radar systems to improve detection of objects flying at certain altitudes and speeds. This was done to address a "domain awareness gap" that had allowed three suspected Chinese spy balloons to pass through the US undetected during the Trump administration, according to Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of US Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command.

The more advanced radar systems used by the US military have enabled them to detect more unidentified objects in American airspace. In the weeks following the Chinese balloon incident, there were three additional instances of unidentified high-altitude objects being shot down. Just recently, fighter jets from the North American Aerospace Defense Command were deployed to intercept and inspect a small balloon drifting east over the southwest. NORAD later confirmed that the balloon was most likely just a hobby balloon and posed no threat.

According to a US official, the Pentagon stated that the Chinese surveillance balloon did not gather intelligence while flying over the US. However, US intelligence agencies discovered that it was using an American internet service provider to send periodic data transmissions related to navigation and location back to China.

The official clarified that the network connection was not utilized to send information back to China. Instead, the balloon stored the data for future reference, including images and other information that the US has now analyzed.

CNN's Hannah Rabinowitz played a role in the creation of this report.

Editor's P/S:

The discovery of a potential spy balloon off the coast of Alaska raises concerns about ongoing surveillance efforts by foreign governments. The incident highlights the heightened awareness and improved detection capabilities of the US military after the Chinese spy balloon incident last year. The interception of the mysterious object underscores the importance of continued vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to address potential threats to national security.

Moreover, the revelation that the Chinese surveillance balloon collected data while flying over the US serves as a reminder of the sophisticated espionage tactics employed by foreign governments. The incident emphasizes the need for robust cybersecurity measures and ongoing efforts to counter foreign intelligence operations that may compromise sensitive information. It also underscores the importance of international diplomacy and cooperation to establish clear protocols for surveillance activities and prevent escalation of tensions.