February 3, 2023 Suspected Chinese spy balloon flies over the US

By Aditi Sangal, Leinz Vales, Adrienne Vogt, Matt Meyer, Elise Hammond and Tori B. Powell, CNN

Updated 0532 GMT (1332 HKT) February 4, 2023
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1:10 p.m. ET, February 3, 2023

Suspected spy balloon-related ground stop in Montana diverted some flights on Wednesday

From CNN's Pete Muntean

A suspected Chinese spy balloon currently above the US resulted in an hours-long grounding of commercial flights in a swath of airspace at least 200 miles long, according to a new statement from the Billings, Montana, airport and a source familiar with the situation.

“On Wednesday, Feb. 1, a Ground Stop was issued that stretched from Helena to Billings and it lasted approximately two hours from around 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.,” said Billings Logan International Airport's Assistant Director of Aviation and Transit Shane Ketterling. “Since the Ground Stop was lifted, there have not been any more issues or delays.”

A source familiar with the situation told CNN that the ground stop was for Department of Defense activity. 

During a briefing with reporters Thursday, a senior defense official said “we wanted to make sure we were coordinating with civil authorities to empty out the airspace around that potential area” in case the military decided to shoot down the balloon. 

The Federal Aviation Administration, whose control over airspace ends at 60,000 feet above sea level, declined to comment.

On Friday, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said during a briefing that the balloon is assessed to be at about 60,000 feet above the ground.

The Billings airport said the flight impacts were minimal because of what time it happened. 

“The Ground Stop happened mid-afternoon when Billings Logan International Airport has very few flights. A total of three flights experienced delays; two inbound flights were diverted and arrived in Billings late, and an outbound United Airlines flight was also delayed,” the statement said. 

3:28 p.m. ET, February 3, 2023

Suspected surveillance balloon is maneuverable, according to Pentagon press secretary

From CNN's Haley Britzky

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder holds a press briefing at the Pentagon on October 18, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia.
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder holds a press briefing at the Pentagon on October 18, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said on Friday that the US Defense Department knows the suspected surveillance balloon floating over the northern US “has the ability to maneuver.” 

“The balloon is maneuverable, clearly it's violated US air space, and again we’ve communicated that fact to the [People’s Republic of China],” Ryder said. 

The spokesperson did not indicate any details on how it can be maneuvered. 

Ryder said the balloon is assessed to be at about 60,000 feet above the ground.

Sources familiar with the matter previously told CNN that the balloon’s movement relies primarily on the jet stream. Ryder added on Friday that the balloon “has changed its course which, again, is why we’re monitoring it.”

Chinese officials said on Friday that the balloon is a “civilian airship” used for research that “deviated far from its planned course.”

Watch here:

12:38 p.m. ET, February 3, 2023

Pentagon: Chinese "surveillance" balloon violates US airspace and is "unacceptable" 

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the US has conveyed to the People's Republic of China (PRC) that the balloon traveling over the United States violates US airspace and international law.

"We know that balloon has violated US airspace and international law — which is unacceptable. And we've conveyed this directly to the PRC on multiple levels," he told reporters Friday.

The Pentagon rejected China's claims that the balloon that entered the US was a "civilian airship" for research that deviated from course.

"The fact is, we know that it's a surveillance balloon, and I'm not going to be able to be more specific than that," he said, noting the information is classified.

12:33 p.m. ET, February 3, 2023

Pentagon believes balloon would create "significant" debris field and potentially hurt people if shot down

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder explained why officials have assessed it would be dangerous to shoot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon flying over the continental United States.

"In terms of the size, I'm not able to get into the specifics other than to say that it is big enough that, again, in reviewing our approach, we do recognize that any potential debris field would be significant and potentially cause civilian injuries or deaths, or significant property damage," Ryder told reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon.

"This is part of the calculus in terms of our overall assessment, but again, we'll continue to monitor it, we'll continue to review our options, and keep you updated as able."

12:28 p.m. ET, February 3, 2023

Suspected Chinese spy balloon expected to be over the US "for a few days," Pentagon says

The suspected Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon is expected to remain above the US for a couple days, according to Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.

"Right now, we assess that it will probably be over the United States for a few days. But we'll continue to monitor and review our options and keep you updated as we can," he said at a press briefing.

Ryder earlier said he was unable to give a specific location, but the balloon is above the central continental US right now and moving eastward.

12:20 p.m. ET, February 3, 2023

Pentagon press secretary says there's been no change in keeping open communication with China

"Nothing has changed" in regard to keeping an open line of communication with China, according to Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, after officials told CNN that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a planned trip to Beijing in response to the suspected Chinese spy balloon.

"I think we've been very clear that we're always open to maintaining an open line of communication with the PRC (People's Republic of China). And in that regard, nothing has changed. Nothing," Ryder said to reporters.

12:22 p.m. ET, February 3, 2023

Pentagon rejects China's claim that balloon is a civilian research airship

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder flatly denied the Chinese government's claim that the balloon traveling over the continental United States serves a civilian research purpose.

"We are aware of the (People's Republic of China)'s statement," Ryder said at a press briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

"However, the fact is, we know that it's a surveillance balloon. And I'm not going to be able to be more specific than that," the spokesperson said.

"We do know that the balloon has violated US air space and international law, which is unacceptable," Ryder added. "And so we've conveyed this directly to the PRC at multiple levels."

12:12 p.m. ET, February 3, 2023

Pentagon: Chinese balloon does't present threat at this time as we continue to monitor

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder listens to a question during a press briefing on Friday.
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder listens to a question during a press briefing on Friday. (Pool)

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said North American Aerospace Defense Command continues to monitor the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon closely. 

It continues to move eastward and is over the central of the continental US, he added.

"Again, we currently assess that balloon does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground at this time, and we'll continue to monitor and review options," Ryder said.

12:00 p.m. ET, February 3, 2023

NOW: The Pentagon is holding a media briefing

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder is holding a news conference as officials track a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon over the northern United States.

The briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, comes shortly after word that Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed a trip to China in response to the balloon sighting.