View source for Unsolved:2023 Alaska high-altitude object

{{Short description|Shootdown incident over Alaska, USA}}
{{infobox event
| location = Beaufort Sea
| type = Airspace violator
| outcome = Shot down by a {{wipe|U.S. Air Force}} F-22 Raptor
| map={{OSM Location map
|   coord = {{coord|65|12|20|N|138|30|42|W}}
|    zoom = 2
|   width = 260
|  height = 150
| caption = The location of Deadhorse, where the object was shot down off the coast.
| label = Deadhorse
| float = center
| mark=
| mark-size=
| mark-coord = {{coord|70|12|20|N|148|30|42|W}}
| mark-title =
| mark-image =
| mark-description= Epicenter
}}
}}
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On February 10, 2023, the {{wipe|United States Air Force}} shot down a high-altitude object that had entered U.S. airspace over [[Earth:Alaska|Alaska]] a day before. The object was shot down onto the Beaufort Sea. The Department of Defense said it was the size of a [[Engineering:Compact car|small car]] and flying northeast at approximately {{convert|40,000|ft}}, posing a risk to civilian flight.

On February 18, 2023, it was reported that the search had been abandoned.<ref name="BBC Abandoned">{{cite news |date=2023-02-18 |title=US and Canada abandon search for three flying objects shot down |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64687038 |archive-date=February 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225131615/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64687038 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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==Background==
The object in Alaska was detected less than one week after a Chinese balloon{{efn|Alleged by US and Canada to be [[Philosophy:Observation balloon|observation balloon]], claimed by China to be a [[Earth:Weather balloon|weather balloon]]}} was detected by the U.S. and shot down over the Atlantic.<ref name="NYT"/> United States National Security Council coordinator John Kirby said it was "much, much smaller than the spy balloon that we took down last Saturday"<ref name="NYT"/> and was about the size of a small car.<ref name="Aratani">{{Cite news |last=Aratani |first=Lauren |date=2023-02-11 |title=Mystery surrounds what exactly was object US jet shot down over Alaska |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/11/alaska-mystery-flying-object-us-chinese-balloon |access-date=2023-02-12 |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> The Chinese balloon shot down in the Atlantic was at {{convert|60,000|ft}}, while the Alaska object was at about {{convert|40,000|ft}},<Ref name=Aratani/> thus presenting a greater threat to commercial aircraft.<ref name="NYT"/>

On February 11, [[Unsolved:2023 Yukon high-altitude object|another high-altitude object]] was shot down in the Yukon Territory.

==Detection, description, and flight path==
The [[Unsolved:Unidentified flying object|unidentified flying object]]<ref name="Reuters">{{Cite news |last1=Shalal |first1=Andrea |last2=Holland |first2=Steve |last3=Stewart |first3=Phil |last4=Stewart |first4=Phil |date=2023-02-11 |title=U.S. shoots down unidentified object flying above Alaska |language=en |work={{wipe|Reuters}} |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-says-it-shot-down-object-over-alaska-size-small-car-2023-02-10/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211050122/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-says-it-shot-down-object-over-alaska-size-small-car-2023-02-10/ |url-status=live }}</ref> was described as cylindrical, silver, and appearing to float.<ref name="ABC">{{Cite news |last1=Gittleson |first1=Ben |date=11 February 2022 |title=US shoots down unknown 'high-altitude object' over Alaska, White House says |website=ABC News |publisher= |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-shoots-high-altitude-object-alaska-white-house/story?id=97040022 |access-date=11 February 2023 |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210232751/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-shoots-high-altitude-object-alaska-white-house/story?id=97040022 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was detected by U.S. radar at 9 p.m. [[Alaska Time Zone|AKST]] on February 9 and U.S. Northern Command sent an E-3 Sentry [[Engineering:Airborne early warning and control|AWACS]] aircraft to track it, supported by inflight refueling.{{r|NYT}} Two flypasts were conducted, one on the evening of February 9 and the other on the morning of February 10.<ref name="WhatWeKnow">{{Cite web |last=Britzky |first=Haley |last2=Bertrand |first2=Natasha |last3=Pelish |first3=Aaron |date=2023-02-11 |title=What we know about the unidentified object shot down over Alaska {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/11/politics/unidentified-object-alaska-military-latest/index.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=February 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212145915/https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/11/politics/unidentified-object-alaska-military-latest/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> F-35 fighter jets deployed from {{wipe|Eielson Air Force Base}} as well as F-22 fighter jets from Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson (JBER) to make a visual inspection found it was uncrewed.<ref name="NYT"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vazquez |first1=Maegan |last2=Klein |first2=Betsy |last3=Liebermann |first3=Oren |last4=Britzky |first4=Haley |title=Biden says shoot down of 'high-altitude object' over Alaska was a 'success' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/10/politics/biden-alaska-military-down/index.html |date=February 10, 2023 |publisher=CNN |access-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211155632/https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/10/politics/biden-alaska-military-down/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

A source briefed on the intelligence told CNN that the pilots gave differing accounts of what they had seen. Some pilots said that the object "interfered with their sensors" on their aircraft but other pilots did not report this.<ref name=WhatWeKnow/> Some pilots said that they could not identify any means of propulsion on the object.<ref name=WhatWeKnow/> One U.S. official told CNN that the object did not appear to have any surveillance equipment.<ref>{{cite web |last=Vogt |first=Adrienne |last2=Powell |first2=Tori |last3=Meyer |first3=Matt |date=10 February 2023 |title=February 10, 2023 - US shoots down 'high-altitude object' over Alaska |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/object-shot-down-alaska/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=February 12, 2023 |archive-date=February 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212145915/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/object-shot-down-alaska/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to U.S. officials, the object had traveled over Alaska before heading northward to sea at a speed of {{convert|20|to|40|mph}}.<ref name="NYT"/>

== Shootdown ==
At around 10:45 a.m. [[Alaska Time Zone|AKST]] on February 10,<Ref name=Aratani/><ref name="Indy">{{Cite news |last=Woodward |first=Alex |last2=Dodds |first2=Io |date=2023-02-10 |title=Everything we know about the mysterious 'object' shot down by US warplanes in Alaska |language=en |website=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/us-object-alaska-balloon-b2280181.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211103207/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/us-object-alaska-balloon-b2280181.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the object was shot down by an AIM-9X Sidewinder fired by an F-22 Raptor from JBER, marking the model's second air-to-air kill.<ref name=Indy/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Jake |date=2023-02-10 |title=After nearly 2 decades in service, the F-22 has its first air-to-air kills — neither against the jets it was designed to fight |language=en-US |website=Business Insider |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/f-22-first-air-to-air-kills-neither-against-jets-2023-2 |access-date=2023-02-11 |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211002220/https://www.businessinsider.com/f-22-first-air-to-air-kills-neither-against-jets-2023-2 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ellis |first=Tim |date=2023-02-11 |title=JBER-based fighter jets shoot down airborne object off Alaska |url=https://fm.kuac.org/news/2023-02-10/jber-based-fighter-jets-shoot-down-airborne-object-off-alaska |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=KUAC |language=en |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211193119/https://fm.kuac.org/news/2023-02-10/jber-based-fighter-jets-shoot-down-airborne-object-off-alaska |url-status=live }}</ref>

President Joe Biden ordered the shootdown, out of what Kirby called an "abundance of caution".<ref name="NYT"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Cabral |first=Sam |last2=Kim |first2=Chloe |date=10 February 2023 |title=High-altitude object shot down over Alaska, US says |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64605447 |access-date=10 February 2023 |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210193927/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64605447 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder called it "a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Samuel |first=Brett |last2=Mitchell |first2=Ellen |date=10 February 2023 |title=US shoots down another 'high-altitude object' over Alaskan airspace |website=The Hill |publisher= |url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3852988-us-shoots-down-another-high-altitude-object-over-alaskan-airspace/ |access-date=10 February 2023 |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210195741/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3852988-us-shoots-down-another-high-altitude-object-over-alaskan-airspace/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Recovery operations ==
[[File:Pentagon press briefing after 'High-Altitude Object' shot down off Alaskan Coast.jpg|thumb|U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder during a press briefing at the Pentagon.]]
The object landed on the frozen sea off Deadhorse, near the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field, in the [[Earth:Territorial waters|territorial waters]] of the United States.<ref name="Reuters" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Shabad |first=Rebecca |date=February 11, 2023 |title=U.S. shoots down 'high-altitude object' over Alaskan airspace, White House says |work=NBC News |publisher= |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/us-shoots-flying-object-alaska-airspace-white-house-says-rcna70166 |access-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211043439/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/us-shoots-flying-object-alaska-airspace-white-house-says-rcna70166 |url-status=live }}</ref> A Department of Defense official said it broke into pieces.<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Helene |last2=Barnes |first2=Julian E. |last3=Wong |first3=Edward |date=2023-02-10 |title=U.S. Shoots Down High-Altitude Object Over Alaska |language=en-US |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/10/us/politics/unidentified-object-shot-down-alaska.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2023-02-11 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210194233/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/10/us/politics/unidentified-object-shot-down-alaska.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and FBI are participating in efforts to recover the object.<Ref name=Aratani/> Search and rescue aircraft such as the CH-47 Chinook, [[Engineering:Lockheed HC-130|HC-130]] and HH-60 Pave Hawk were used in the effort.{{r|Indy}}

It remains unclear who owned the object.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shivaram |first=Deepa |date=2023-02-10 |title='High-altitude object' shot down by military over Alaska |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/02/10/1156166870/high-altitude-object-shot-down-by-military-over-alaska |website=NPR |access-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211201310/https://www.npr.org/2023/02/10/1156166870/high-altitude-object-shot-down-by-military-over-alaska |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 11, U.S. Northern Command said they had no new information to share about the "capabilities, purpose or origin" of the object, and that recovery operations continued but were affected by [[Earth:Climate of the Arctic|Arctic weather conditions]], such as [[Earth:Wind chill|wind chill]], snow and limited daylight hours.<Ref name=WhatWeKnow/> A Pentagon spokesman said on the same day that recovery teams were collecting the debris on top of the ice.<Ref name=WhatWeKnow/> U.S. divers and unmanned underwater vehicles retrieved additional debris.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Czuczka |first=Tony |date=2023-02-11 |title=US Recovery of Object Downed Over Alaska Faces Arctic Conditions |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-11/us-recovery-of-object-downed-over-alaska-faces-arctic-conditions |access-date=2023-02-15}}</ref>

On February 18, 2023, it was reported that the search had been abandoned.<ref name="BBC Abandoned">{{cite news |date=2023-02-18 |title=US and Canada abandon search for three flying objects shot down |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64687038 |archive-date=February 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225131615/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64687038 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Reactions ==
President Biden said that the shootdown was a success.<ref name=WhatWeKnow/> Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was briefed on the incursion and "supported the decision to take action".<ref name="NYT"/>

In a statement made shortly after the object was downed, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said it "raises serious national security concerns that should concern every American", that it is a reminder of Alaska's [[Earth:Geopolitics|geopolitical]] strategic importance and that the Alaska National Guard is "working closely with USNORTHCOM and other agencies to provide any support as requested".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Kollette |date=2023-02-11 |title=Governor Dunleavy Issues Statement on Unidentified Object Shot Down Over Alaska |url=https://gov.alaska.gov/governor-dunleavy-issues-statement-on-unidentified-object-shot-down-over-alaska/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Government of Alaska |language=en-US}}</ref>

The White House stated the leading explanation for the objects was "commercial or research entities and therefore totally benign".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicholas |first=Peter |last2=Shabad |first2=Rebecca |last3=Wong |first3=Scott |date=February 14, 2023 |title=White House says a leading explanation for the 3 downed unidentified objects is that they were commercial or benign |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/white-house-says-leading-explanation-3-downed-unidentified-objects-com-rcna70588 |website=NBC News}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Unsolved:List of high-altitude object events in 2023|List of high-altitude object events in 2023]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Alaska high-altitude object, 2023}}
[[Category:Unidentified flying objects]]

{{Sourceattribution|2023 Alaska high-altitude object|1}}