The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a cease-and-desist at three U.S. East Coast airports and closed airspace for a possible shoot-down of the suspected Chinese spy balloon that has crossed the country.
The FAA’s measure is to «support the Department of Defense in a national security action», according to the US press. The airports affected are Wilmington, North Carolina; Myrtle Beach and Chaleston, South Carolina.
The ordered ground stop means that all aircraft that meet the established criteria must remain on the ground. The affected area is about 52,000 square kilometers.
Several flight tracking portals have reported the presence of military aircraft along the path of the Chinese balloon. Among them are two KC-135R in-flight refueling aircraft, a C-130 Hercules. Fighter aircraft do not usually appear on these tracking portals.
This Saturday the balloon has been spotted at several points in the Carolinas and continues its trajectory towards the coast. In fact, the York County Police in South Carolina have warned the public not to fire at the balloon.
«It’s over 60,000 feet in altitude—18,000 meters–. Don’t try to shoot at it! Your rifle bullets will NOT hit it,» the York County Sheriff’s Department explained in a message posted on Twitter.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
