The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) recently intercepted a high altitude hobby balloon flying over the United States, believed to be a craft owned by an amateur balloonist and not linked to China. The balloon was detected over Utah and heading east, with NORAD fighters confirming it was not maneuverable and posed no threat to national security. Authorities closely monitored the balloon until it exited US airspace. NORAD, in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), assured the public that the balloon did not pose a hazard to flight safety or U.S. security. The incident brought back memories of a previous Chinese spy craft that was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean last year. Intelligence agencies confirmed the Chinese balloon had espionage capabilities, though they managed to prevent data collection. The recent intercept of the hobby balloon underscored the vigilance of NORAD and FAA in safeguarding airspace.