Suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down off South Carolina coast

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Politics Updated on: February 5, 2023 / 12:53 PM / CBS News Solving the mystery of the Chinese spy balloon Solving the mystery of the Chinese spy balloon 02:18 U.S. fighter jets shot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon that had drifted across the United States for several days on Saturday, bringing an end to the opening chapter of a tense public standoff with Beijing over the intrusion into U.S. airspace.
The balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina shortly after 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News.
pic.twitter.com/85EZ3EDbYq > > — Ashlyn Preaux for SC 61 (@ashlynforsc) February 4, 2023 Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement Saturday afternoon that President Biden had given his authorization on Wednesday "to take down the surveillance balloon as soon as the mission could be accomplished without undue risk to American lives under the balloon's path."
The military Wednesday presented options to Mr. Biden, advising that it was too risky to shoot down the balloon over land, the officials said, and the president then directed the military to put together a plan to shoot down the balloon over water.