Biden says U.S. is ‘gonna take care’ of Chinese language spy balloon

President Joe Biden on Saturday briefly spoke in regards to the Chinese language spy balloon that has been hovering over the U.S. over the previous few days because the Federal Aviation Administration paused departures and arrivals at three airports within the Carolinas.

Requested by a reporter if the U.S. will shoot down the balloon as he deplaned Air Drive As soon as, Biden stated, “We’re gonna handle it.” It was the primary time Biden had spoken on digicam in regards to the balloon and he didn’t say how his administration plans to handle it.

Residents in North Carolina and South Carolina reported seeing the spy balloon Saturday, and the Federal Aviation Administration paused departures and arrivals at three native airports because of “a nationwide safety effort.”

“The FAA has paused departures from and arrivals to Wilmington (ILM), Myrtle Seaside Worldwide (MYR) and Charleston Worldwide (CHS) airports to assist the Division of Protection in a nationwide safety effort,” the FAA stated in an announcement.

In a news briefing Friday, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder stated that the navy was nonetheless “reviewing choices” however had not taken the balloon down as a result of “proper now we assess that there isn’t any bodily menace or navy menace to individuals on the bottom.”

Ryder stated on Friday that the balloon was flying at an altitude of 60,000 toes — above civilian and navy aviation — and shifting eastward throughout the continental U.S.

High Republicans in Congress have demanded answers from the Biden administration in regards to the Chinese language balloon, with some saying the U.S. ought to have shot it down. Former President Donald Trump posted on his platform Fact Social, “SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON!”

The balloon was noticed over Billings, Montana, on Wednesday after having flown over Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and thru Canada.

China said Friday that the balloon was a “civilian airship” used for climate analysis that had been blown off track. Ryder pushed again on Beijing’s claims, saying, “We all know that it’s a surveillance balloon.”

This text was initially printed on NBCNews.com

Previous post Morgan Evans Displays on Kelsea Ballerini Divorce Amid Her Rumored Romance With Chase Stokes
Next post Play suspended at 2023 AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am resulting from wind circumstances