Chinese Spy Balloon in Flight, Pentagon Releases Pics Taken Before Shoot Down

A U.S. Air Force pilot has a novel memento from the Chinese spy balloon disaster — a selfie snapped with the system in the background … earlier than it was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean.

The Pentagon launched new photos Wednesday, displaying the balloon in flight on Feb. 3 — the USAF ultimately fired a missile on Feb. 4 to take it down. The photographs have been taken from the cockpit of a U-2 spy airplane, which is able to flying at an altitude of as much as 70,000 toes.

The spy balloon was reportedly floating round 40,000 toes when it was destroyed. Interestingly, the brand new photographs present it was nonetheless over land on Feb. 3, and that the U.S. navy was preserving a detailed eye on the balloon.

U.S. officers mentioned China’s tremendous snooper was in regards to the dimension of three faculty buses, and you may see in the pics … it had big photo voltaic panels hooked up to the spying gear.

President Biden mentioned he gave the order to shoot it down on Feb. 1, however navy advisors mentioned it will be greatest to attend till it was over open water.