Everything we know about the unidentified object shot down over Lake Huron

An unidentified airborne object was shot down over Lake Huron on Sunday.

Military officials believe it is the same object that was spotted over Montana on Saturday.

The object is not believed to have posed a physical or military threat, but it is the fourth object to be shot down in just over a week.

Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said part of the reason for the repeated shootdowns is a “heightened alert” following a spy balloon from China that appeared in late January, according to reports.

“We have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase,” Melissa Dalton, assistant defense secretary for homeland defense, told the Associated Press.

Read: Official: US, Canada recovering debris from Lake Huron to learn more about downed aerial object

U.S. fighter jet shoots down object

A U.S. fighter jet shot down the “unidentified object” over Lake Huron on orders from President Joe Biden.

An F-16 fired an AIM9x at the object, taking it down over Lake Huron at 2:42 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12.

The object was at around 20,000 feet altitude. Military officials were concerned it was a hazard to civil aviation and the decision was made to shoot it down.

Based on its flight path, officials believe it is the same object radar picked up over Montana. Crews are now working to recover the object from Lake Huron.

You can read the entire press release from the Department of Defense by clicking here.

What did the object look like?

According to reports, the object was shaped like an octagon with strings hanging off it and did not appear to carry anything.

Pentagon officials told the AP on Sunday that they were still trying to determine what the three latest objects were. They said they tried to use the jets’ guns instead of missiles, but it was too difficult

Have officials ruled out aliens or extraterrestrials?

VanHerck was asked if officials have ruled out aliens or extraterrestrials during a briefing on Sunday. He said officials “haven’t ruled out anything.”

Question: Hi, thanks, Pat, and thanks for doing this. This is for General VanHerck. Because you still haven’t been able to tell us what these things are that we are shooting out of the sky, that raises the question, have you ruled out aliens or extraterrestrials? And if so, why? Because that is what everyone is asking us right now.

VanHerck: Thanks for the question, Helena. I’ll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven’t ruled out anything. At this point, we continue to assess every threat or potential threats unknown that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the extraterrestrial comments at a press briefing on Monday (Feb. 13).

“I know there have been questions and concerns about this, but there is no, again no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns. Again there is no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns. Wanted to make sure the American people know that,” Jean-Pierre said.

Timeline of objects shot down over North America

The U.S. military has shot down at least four aerial objects, starting with a Chinese spy balloon.

Officials said the three other objects were not consistent with the fleet of Chinese aerial surveillance balloons.

• On Feb. 4, a Chinese spy balloon was “safely” shot down off the South Carolina coast.
• On Feb. 10, a U.S. fighter jet brought down an unidentified object over the waters of Alaska. Officials said it broke down into pieces and was likely not a balloon. It is believed to have been cylindrical and the size of a small car.
• On Feb. 11, an American F-22 fighter downed an object over the Yukon Territory, which borders Alaska. A Canadian official described the object as cylindrical and smaller than the spy balloon.
• On Feb. 12, an object was shot down over Lake Huron while flying at 20,000 feet.

Rep. Slotkin discusses object during unrelated press conference

U.S. Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin on Monday held a press conference to discuss new projects in Livingston County -- and she also answered questions about the Sunday downing of an unidentified airborne object over Lake Huron.

Michigan politicians release statements