Pictures | Sat Feb 4, 2023 | 4:40pm EST

U.S. shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon with a single missile

Reuters / Saturday, February 04, 2023

The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, February 4, 2023. U.S. military fighter aircraft shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon as it floated off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday, drawing to a close a dramatic saga that shone a spotlight on worsening Sino-U.S. relations. REUTERS/Randall Hill

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Reuters / Saturday, February 04, 2023

A jet flies by a suspected Chinese spy balloon after shooting it down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, February 4, 2023. "We successfully took it down, and I want to compliment our aviators who did it," President Joe Biden said. Biden said he had issued an order on Wednesday to take down the balloon, but the Pentagon had recommended waiting until it could be done over open water. Multiple fighter and refueling aircraft were involved in the mission, but only one -- an F-22 fighter jet -- took the shot, using a single AIM-9X missile, a senior U.S. military official said. The balloon was shot down about six nautical miles off the U.S. coast, the official said. REUTERS/Randall Hill

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Reuters / Saturday, February 04, 2023

The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, February 4, 2023. The shootdown came shortly after the U.S. government ordered a halt to flights in and out of three South Carolina airports -- Wilmington, Myrtle Beach and Charleston -- due to what it said at the time was an undisclosed "national security effort." The flights resumed Saturday afternoon. The balloon first entered a U.S. identification zone on Jan. 28, entered Canadian airspace three days later, and then re-entered U.S. airspace on Jan. 31, a U.S. defense official said. U.S. officials had publicly disclosed the balloon's presence over the United States on Thursday. Washington has called it a "clear violation" of U.S. sovereignty. REUTERS/Randall Hill

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Reuters / Saturday, February 04, 2023

A jet flies by a suspected Chinese spy balloon after shooting it down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, February 4, 2023. The FAA had issued a temporary flight restriction to clear airspace around the South Carolina coast. The notice blocked flights to more than 100 square miles (260 square kilometers) -- mostly over the Atlantic Ocean, according to a document posted by the FAA. The notice warned the military could use deadly force if airplanes violate the restrictions and do not comply with orders to leave. REUTERS/Randall Hill

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Reuters / Saturday, February 04, 2023

A jet flies by a suspected Chinese spy balloon after shooting it down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, February 4, 2023. China expressed regret that an "airship" used for civilian meteorological and other scientific purposes had strayed into U.S. airspace. China's foreign ministry said on Saturday that the flight of the "airship" over the United States was a force majeure accident, and accused U.S. politicians and media of taking advantage of the situation to discredit Beijing. REUTERS/Randall Hill

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Spectators look at a photo of a suspected Chinese spy balloon after it was shot down off the coast in Holden Beach, North Carolina, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

Reuters / Saturday, February 04, 2023

Spectators look at a photo of a suspected Chinese spy balloon after it was shot down off the coast in Holden Beach, North Carolina, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

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Spectators watch after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down off the coast in Holden Beach, North Carolina, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

Reuters / Saturday, February 04, 2023

Spectators watch after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down off the coast in Holden Beach, North Carolina, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

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Spectators watch after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down off the coast in Holden Beach, North Carolina, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

Reuters / Saturday, February 04, 2023

Spectators watch after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down off the coast in Holden Beach, North Carolina, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

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A view of what is believed to be a suspected Chinese spy balloon when it was shot down, seen from Holden Beach, North Carolina, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

Reuters / Saturday, February 04, 2023

A view of what is believed to be a suspected Chinese spy balloon when it was shot down, seen from Holden Beach, North Carolina, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

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A view of what is believed to be a suspected Chinese spy balloon when it was shot down, seen from Holden Beach, North Carolina, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

Reuters / Saturday, February 04, 2023

A view of what is believed to be a suspected Chinese spy balloon when it was shot down, seen from Holden Beach, North Carolina, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

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A view of what is believed to be a suspected Chinese spy balloon when it was shot down, seen from Holden Beach, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

Reuters / Saturday, February 04, 2023

A view of what is believed to be a suspected Chinese spy balloon when it was shot down, seen from Holden Beach, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

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A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, February 1, 2023 in this picture obtained from social media. Chase Doak/via REUTERS

Reuters / Thursday, February 02, 2023

A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, February 1, 2023 in this picture obtained from social media. Chase Doak/via REUTERS

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