The US military is tracking a mysterious balloon flying over American soil, and its origins and purpose are currently unknown, according to three US officials. The balloon reportedly flew across parts of Hawaii but did not cross into any sensitive areas. Although the military has been tracking the balloon since last week, they have stated that it poses no threat to national security or aerial traffic and is not communicating any signals.
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However, the officials have noted that the US could shoot it down if it nears land. The balloon is slowly moving towards Mexico, but it does not appear to have any maneuverability.
While US officials do not believe that the balloon belongs to China, they are still trying to identify the owner. In early February, a Chinese spy balloon flew across parts of the US, collecting intelligence from sensitive military sites, before being shot down off the Carolina coast.