Government agencies worked throughout the week to find the right place and time to intercept the suspected Chinese spy balloon, according to a government source familiar with Saturday’s shoot-down.
Earlier in the week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was told by the Pentagon to prepare options for shutting down airspace.
Government officials were told last night that “decisions would be made this morning” on when to close down airspace. FAA officials were told to “be by the phone” early this morning and to be “ready to roll.”
Coastal residents near the site where a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean Saturday are being advised not to try to turn debris into a souvenir.
Pieces of the balloon could make it to the coastline as US military members work to pick up debris from the ocean, according to the government of Horry County, South Carolina, which includes Myrtle Beach.
“Debris should not be touched, moved, or removed,” a Facebook post from the Horry County government said.
“Such items are part of a federal investigation and tampering could interfere in that investigation,” the post stated.
