FACT CHECK: Image does not show Chinese spy balloon on map

Another “Chinese” balloon… How come the sleepy sheep don’t care?

Because the 📺 has not told them 🎯😆

I have quite a few of these archived from February to today, including the “Chinese Globe” from February 3rd that created the frenzy 🤷🏽‍♂️#UnitedStatesGlobe pic.twitter.com/JRFAUWdFlM

-Derek Johnson (@rattletrap1776) November 14, 2023

Verdict: False

There is no evidence of a Chinese spy balloon. Available information shows that it is a private balloon operated by Raven Aerostar.

Fact Check:

Social media users share an image of a Flight Radar 24 map and claim it shows a Chinese spy balloon. One social media user wrote: “Another ‘Chinese’ balloon… How come the sleepy sheep don’t care? Because 📺 hasn’t told them 🎯😆 I have quite a few of these on file from February to today, including the February 3 ‘Chinese Globe’ that created the frenzy.”

However, there is no evidence for this claim. If there was a Chinese spy balloon over the United States, the media would have covered it, but none have. A wider internet search It also did not yield any results on this supposed Chinese spy balloon.

He Defense Department (DOD) nor the White House have published statements or information about an alleged Chinese spy balloon in the US. The DOD statements about the Chinese spy balloon that was later shot down, while the White House Press conferences It included questions from journalists about the balloon.

The balloon that appears in image N870TH or HBAL 665. Check Your Fact reviewed the information for N870TH and the owner was listed as “private owner.” (RELATED: Video claiming Israeli missile attack on Gaza predates current conflict)

Ian Petchenik, a communicator for Flight Radar 24, told Check Your Fact in an email that the balloon “is not a Chinese spy balloon.”

“We can confirm that the balloon linked to in the claim is NOT a Chinese spy balloon. This balloon (and others like it) are stratospheric research balloons. They are usually operated by one of the few corporations, including Raven Aerostar, that operates this particular balloon. For reference, Google Loon previously operated stratospheric balloons, but the Google Loon program ended in 2021,” Petchenik said.

Raven Aerostar’s director of culture and communications, Anastasia Quanbeck, confirmed that the balloon was owned by the company.

“We can confirm that HBAL 665 is owned and operated by Aerostar. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, we fly balloon systems throughout the United States and to locations around the world,” Quanbeck said. “As a world leader in stratospheric technology, Aerostar safely launches and operates hundreds of flights each year. “Our balloons are equipped with transponders and we coordinate closely with the FAA and local and international authorities so surrounding air traffic can track our location.”

Check Your Fact has reached out to the Department of Defense for comment and will update this article if a response is provided.