Americans are once again looking skyward in alarm as mysterious high-altitude balloons silently drift over multiple states, rekindling fears of foreign surveillance and government secrecy.
Reports from Colorado, Arizona and Alabama describe white objects hovering far above the clouds, eerily reminiscent of the 2023 Chinese spy balloon incident.
That event sparked nationwide panic when a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon crossed the continental US before being shot down by a fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina.
For many, the sudden reappearance of these enigmatic objects raises fresh questions about who, or what, is watching from above.
Locals have flooded social media with photos and videos of the strange balloons, pleading for help in identifying them.
While some observers believe the objects may be part of routine research projects, others are convinced they are ‘new Chinese spy balloons’ designed to gather intelligence.
In Tucson, Arizona, multiple sightings have been reported this year, with one prompting speculation that it was ‘a spy camera platform from China transmitting military secrets in fast bursts.’
However, later reports determined that at least one of the Tucson objects was part of a US military test, which stirred fresh concerns among privacy advocates.
Arizona has been a balloon hotspot over the past few months, with some locals first believe they were Chinese spy balloons
People used flight tracking data to watch a balloon’s path in June
Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union, told the Arizona Mirror: ‘It is a technology that should not and constitutionally cannot be applied to the American people.
‘Even testing for eventual overseas use in legitimate combat theaters raises a lot of questions about what kind of data is being collected.’
The most recent incident in Arizona was reported about two weeks ago, when a balloon was spotted drifting over Lemmon.
Social media users attempted to track the balloon on flight monitoring apps but were unsuccessful, fueling suspicion about its purpose.
‘Not showing on Flightradar24, though, like others have in weeks past,’ one Reddit user wrote. Another chimed in, ‘I saw it a few minutes ago outside. Usually, they’re at 60,000 feet. It must be huge!’
Earlier sightings in June caused a stir when multiple high-altitude balloons lingered over the Tucson and Sierra Vista areas for more than a week, leaving residents on edge.
In Boulder, Colorado, locals reported seeing what was later identified as an Aerostar Thunderhead steerable balloon.
‘It’s not just a weather balloon,’ one Reddit user explained. ‘It can also carry signal-gathering equipment, communications equipment, or other sensors.’
Many people in Colorado spotted a balloon this week, floating outside of Boulder
Aerostar, a company that develops balloons for scientific research, telecommunications and military applications, has confirmed ownership of several of the objects spotted across the country.
A meteorologist also determined that a balloon seen over Alabama belonged to Aerostar.
James Spann, a respected weather expert, posted yesterday on X: ‘Getting a number of reports of a high-altitude object over North Alabama… looks like it is a balloon (HBAL787). It has been drifting south over NE Alabama this afternoon.’
The balloon eventually moved into Tennessee, hovering at an altitude of 59,200 feet, far above commercial airliners, which typically fly at around 35,000 feet.
While some scientists say high-altitude balloons are commonly used for atmospheric research and communications tests, their sudden visibility and stealthy flight patterns continue to alarm the public.
A meteorologist also determined that a balloon seen over Alabama belonged to Aerostar
James Spann, a respected weather expert, posted yesterday on X: ‘Getting a number of reports of a high-altitude object over North Alabama… looks like it is a balloon (HBAL787). It has been drifting south over NE Alabama this afternoon.’
A report released in February revived the Chinese balloon incident, finding it was secretly equipped with US-made technology.
It was full of the very same technology that may have helped Beijing spy on unsuspecting Americans, two sources with direct knowledge of the classified investigation told Newsweek exclusively.
Military analysts who dismantled the balloon found it was loaded with American-made satellite communication modules and sophisticated sensors from at least five different US companies, as reported by the outlet.
A Chinese patent uncovered during the investigation also alarmingly showed that Beijing had already mapped out exactly how to use American satellite technology to control these spy balloons and harvest sensitive data.
The necessary equipment was reportedly easily available for purchase online.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .