The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the
balloon also was incapable of maneuvering itself as it traveled
at an altitude of between 43,000 and 45,000 feet (13,106 and
13,716 meters).
The North American Aerospace Defense Command did not respond to
a request for comment.
The appearance of the balloon comes just over a year after a
U.S. fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina dramatically
shot down what it said was a Chinese spy balloon collecting
intelligence over the United States.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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