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Air Traffic Control (ATC) confirmed that a “large white balloon” has been spotted just northeast of Hawaii.
The Oakland Oceanic Air Traffic Control Center said on Sunday that a white ballon was spotted over the Pacific Ocean just 594 miles northeast of Honolulu.
“The balloon was reported to be flying at an altitude of roughly 40,000 to 50,000 feet (12,000 to 15,000 meters). ‘Advice [air traffic control] if object is seen,’ the message to pilots said,” per NO News. “The coordinates in the message put the balloon in international airspace in an area where the U.S. handles air traffic control.”
The spotted balloon, which may or may not be a benign object, comes after the United States shot down a Chinese spy balloon that floated over the United States after it entered Montana through Canada. According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, China has still given no apology for the incident. Speaking with NBC’s Meet the Press, Blinken said that his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, did not apologize during a recent meeting.
“I don’t want to characterize what he said. I don’t think that would be appropriate,” Blinken said. “Although I can tell you, no, there was no apology.”
Blinken said that the balloon surveyed sensitive military sites in Montana, including missile and nuclear weapons silos, calling it an intentional act, which China denies.