Unidentified objects shot down over Canada may never be recovered: Public safety minister

By Cormac Mac Sweeney and Hana Mae Nassar

Canadian officials are now considering the chance the two flying objects shot down over the Yukon and Lake Huron may never be found.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says that is now a working assumption as the coast guard, military, and RCMP all continue to look for the debris.

“Before we get into the details of characterizing exactly what these objects are, let’s make sure we recover them, if we can. There’s a possibility that we won’t be able to recover them,” he said.

Military helicopters and planes have been flying over a remote area of the Yukon and coast guard ships and drones have been searching Lake Huron alongside American authorities to track down the objects. They were shot down last weekend, with a total of four objects, including a suspected Chinese spy balloon, downed in recent weeks.

In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 5, 2023. A missile fired on Feb. 5 by a U.S. F-22 off the Carolina coast ended the days-long flight of what the Biden administration says was a surveillance operation that took the Chinese balloon near U.S. military sites. It was an unprecedented incursion across U.S. territory for recent decades, and raised concerns among Americans about a possible escalation in spying and other challenges from rival China. (U.S. Navy via AP)

In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 5, 2023. A missile fired on Feb. 5 by a U.S. F-22 off the Carolina coast ended the days-long flight of what the Biden administration says was a surveillance operation that took the Chinese balloon near U.S. military sites. It was an unprecedented incursion across U.S. territory for recent decades, and raised concerns among Americans about a possible escalation in spying and other challenges from rival China. (U.S. Navy via AP)

However, Mendicino admits there have been challenges in the search.

“The conditions are very difficult. We are in the midst of winter, temperatures are rock-bottom, freezing, very low, and they are very remote locations,” he explained.

“There is a possibility that we won’t be able to recover them, given the remoteness, given the challenges, given the deterioration, etcetera. But rather than speculate, let’s first try to get a look and we’ll provide you with an update.”

Mendicino would not directly comment on the working theory from the U.S. intelligence community that the objects recently shot down are actually benign or commercial flying objects, and not Chinese spy balloons.

‘No indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity’: White House press secretary

On Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there was “no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns.”

Admiral John Kirby with the U.S. National Security Council added the three latest objects — shot down Friday, Saturday, and Sunday — were at roughly 40,000 feet and 20,000 feet, posing a potential risk to commercial air traffic.

“Because we assessed that they weren’t manned and weren’t being controlled, therefore left to atmospheric conditions, the real risk to safety of flight was a problem,” he explained.


Related articles: 


“While we had no specific reason to suspect that they were conducting surveillance of any kind, we couldn’t rule that out.”

Kirby’s comments came just shortly after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about the takedowns. Trudeau assured Canadians that surveillance measures through NORAD are working as they should.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today