Another balloon was detected in American skies, raising immediate concern whether it was a new spy gadget.
According to flightradar24, the balloon appeared over central American states and in preliminary reports it was found that it was weather balloon and a local one, which was launched from Sioux Falls.
Just days ago, the US Air Force's U-2S Dragon Lady spy planes were among the assets tapped to monitor and collect intelligence on a Chinese government surveillance balloon during its recent trip across parts of the continental United States and Canada.
An F-22 Raptor stealth fighter finally shot down the balloon with an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday, and efforts are now underway to recover the wreckage from the Atlantic Ocean.
A US defence official confirmed the use of the U-2S as part of the broader response to the Chinese spy balloon.