"Military Monitors Mysterious High-Altitude Balloon Over Western US"

A mysterious high-altitude balloon spotted over the Western US turned out to be a hobbyist device and has left American airspace, according to federal investigators. The balloon, flying at 43,000 to 45,000 feet, was tracked by NORAD and determined to pose no threat to flight safety. Its origin remains unknown, but it was described as a non-maneuverable Mylar balloon with a small cube-shaped box hanging below it. This incident comes after the US Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the South Carolina coast last year.