Defense Department examining possible spy balloon found off Alaska coast: report

Defense Department officials are inspecting a balloon found by fishermen off the Alaskan coast last week to determine if it was used to spy, according to a report.

The balloon is being analyzed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, a department spokesperson told CNN Wednesday – the first time the government officially acknowledged the debris was a balloon.  

“We do not know why the balloon was in the waters off the coast of Alaska nor are we going to characterize it at this time, but hope to learn more about the balloon’s origin and purpose after further analysis of the materiel, which will be conducted by multiple agencies,” spokesperson Sue Gough said.

Sources told CNN last week the balloon, discovered by a commercial fishing ship on Friday, appeared similar to surveillance balloons used by foreign nations.

“The FBI is aware of debris found off the coast of Alaska by a commercial fishing vessel,” the agency told The Post Friday night.

More than a year ago, the US Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon floating over South Carolina after it traveled across the country – and over important US military installations — for several days.

China maintained that the balloon was a civilian meteorological craft that strayed off course.