Canada’s Prime Minister Says Unidentified Object Shot Down Over Yukon

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the unidentified object that was flying over northern Canada has been shot down and the wreckage will be analyzed for further information.

On Saturday, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said in a statement to Sputnik that it was tracking "a high-altitude airborne object" over northern Canada.

"I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. NORAD Command shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object," Trudeau wrote on Twitter.

I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2023

A video of the object was also shared to Twitter by user @aviationbrk.

NORAD shoots down ‘unidentified object’ over Canadian airspace, Trudeau says. pic.twitter.com/WSBQnUBa6v

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) February 11, 2023

In another tweet, the Canadian prime minister said he had discussed the situation with US President Joe Biden.

"I spoke with President Biden this afternoon. Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object. Thank you to NORAD for keeping the watch over North America," Trudeau said.

News of the object comes just one day after US officials reported a similar object which they had shot down over Alaska, a US state that borders Yukon. It also comes one week after US forces downed an alleged Chinese spy balloon which has created tensions between Beijing and Washington, DC.

That balloon also flew over Canada and US airspace reportedly on January 28, until it was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina on February 4.