Unidentified object tracked, shot down over Alaska coast

For the second time in less than a week, the U.S. military has shot down a suspicious high-altitude object flying in American airspace, this time as it was flying over Alaska.

U.S. administration officials state that President Joe Biden ordered the object to be taken down as it traveled along the coast of northeast Alaska, with the Pentagon saying it posed a “reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight.” The object had been spotted and tracked for about 24 hours as it traversed the skies, moving northeast.

It is reported that 2 pilots in F-22 fighter jets were able to determine that the object was unmanned and without a pilot, and that they did not detect the type of surveillance equipment attached to the Chinese surveillance balloon.

Senator Lisa Murkowski, who serves on the U.S. Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and is a leading expert in Congress on Arctic policy and polar affairs, had on Thursday remind the subcommittee that Alaska is usually the first line of defense for such issues, released a statement following the object being shot down:

“I commend the men and women serving in the Alaska NORAD region, the 11th Air Force, and the Alaska Air National Guard. They did their job quickly, professionally, and with great precision to take down this aerial object and protect Alaskans.”

She went on to say that in taking these actions, it serves as a reminder that when Alaska’s sovereignty is threatened, so too is the nation threatened.

“Regardless of where the threat comes from, the U.S. military will respond with all force necessary to eliminate it.”

Senator Murkowski has been briefed on the situation and expressed concern that this was the 2nd such incident in a week, but says she remains actively engaged with the Department of Defense, NORTHCOM, and ALCOM on this issue.

“When threats to America come to Alaska’s doorstep, we respond.”

According to officials, the object, which was smaller than the Chinese surveillance balloon that traveled over the United States before being shot down of the coast of South Carolina, was flying at an altitude of 40,000 feet. For context, that is the same altitude that many commercial jets are able to reach.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a statement on Friday regarding the unidentified object shot down over Alaskan waters, thanking the pilots from Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson and expressed concern about the state of the nation’s security.

"This latest intrusion into our airspace raises serious questions about the White House’s decision to not shoot down a Chinese spy balloon last week when it was above the Aleutian Chain and prevent it from flying over important military sites in the Lower-48.”

Governor Dunleavy echoed Senator Murkowski’s stance that Alaska is the first line of defense against threats from Russia and China, saying:

“Unlike other states, Alaska is truly on the front lines. Because of our close proximity to our neighbors there is very little margin for error. Russian territory is only a few miles away. We are the one state closest to the Korean Peninsula and China. Alaska is truly on the front lines. This latest incident demonstrates that Alaska remains the most strategic place on earth for both geopolitics and national defense."

Officials have not yet identified who sent the object, and have said that they are calling it an object because that was the best description they had, and are unsure of what it was or what it could do.

Search teams are working to recover the debris from frozen waters, and officials are hopeful that because the waters are frozen, it will be much easier to find the object intact and be able to learn more about its origin and other pertinent information