Case · C-092

Yukon: NORAD's first shootdown over Canadian territory

Central Yukon, between Dawson City and Mayo · Canada · Feb 11, 2023

In flight Military witnesses Radar

What happened

On February 11, 2023, an object that arrived from U.S. airspace, described by Minister of National Defence Anita Anand as cylindrical, smaller than the Chinese balloon and flying at about 40,000 feet, was shot down over the Yukon by a U.S. F-22 on NORAD's orders, in agreement with the Canadian government: it was the first time NORAD had shot down an aerial object. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police led the searches in a vast mountainous area between Dawson City and Mayo, suspended on February 17 because of snow. The wreckage has not been found.

Proposed explanation

The White House considered commercial or research balloons as the main hypothesis; according to Senator Chuck Schumer, after a briefing, the United States believed that this object too was a balloon. Amateur radio operators have suggested a small hobbyist “pico” balloon (callsign K9YO) that disappeared from tracking in the same area. Without debris the identification remains uncertain.

Official investigation

NORAD; Canadian Armed Forces; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; FBI

Sources

1. CBC News, “U.S. downs another aerial 'object' over Lake Huron as search continues for wreckage in Yukon”, February 12, 2023 (press)
2. BBC News, “US and Canada abandon search for three flying objects shot down”, February 18, 2023 (press)
3. Wikipedia – 2023 Yukon high-altitude object (other)

On this site

People 1

• Chuck Schumer

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