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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Liam Buckler

US Air Force missile MISSED first attempt to shoot down UFO flying over 'sensitive sites'

The US Air Force's F-16 jet missile reportedly missed its first attempt to shoot down a UFO yesterday as the mystery object flew over "sensitive sites."

A "small, metallic balloon" was spotted floating over Lake Huron in Michigan, US, on Monday, which President Biden ordered to be shot down.

However, the military missed in its first attempt and had to deploy a second Sidewinder, which hit the target, but it is unsure where the first missile landed over Lake Huron.

It was revealed the US spent nearly $1million (£822,000) on two missile attempts.

According to the Pentagon, the UFO was spotted near the eastern portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula over Lake Huron before crossing into near "sensitive sites."

US officials told Fox News: "U.S. Air Force F-16 that shot down an unknown object over Lake Huron yesterday missed on its first attempt.

The Chinese spy balloon was shot down by US fighter jets off the coast in South Carolina (EyePress News/REX/Shutterstock)

"It’s not clear where the first missile landed. A second Sidewinder air-to-air missile was needed."

President Biden is facing demands to publicly address the recent shootings with senators due to have a classified briefing on Tuesday morning.

So far, US fighter jets have shot down four objects with one known to be a Chinese spy balloon, which was shot down off the coast of South Carolina on February 4.

While two further objects were shot down including one off the coast of Alaska on Friday and one over Canada's Yukon area on Saturday.

The Michigan object was shot down on Sunday, but none of them have yet to be identified.

Canada's object is currently being investigated along with the FBI.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Monday: " I want to be clear, the three objects taken down this weekend are very different from what we were talking about last week. We knew exactly what that was - a PRC surveillance balloon."

"We're gonna confirm what they are, once we have collected the debris."

It was confirmed the object shot down over Alaska on Friday was the "size of a small car" and not similar to the Chinese spy balloon spotted off the coast of South Carolina.

One of the Air Force F-16 fighter jets missed the balloon (AFP via Getty Images)

A Pentagon memo submitted to lawmakers on Capitol Hill revealed information on the objects still remain a mystery.

The memo revealed: "'We have no further details about the object at this time, including the full scope of its capabilities, its purpose, or its origin.

"'It should not be assumed that the events of the past few days are connected."

A huge operation to collect the debris is underway but is taking longer than expected due to weather conditions, according to White House spokesman John Kirby.

He said in a statement on Monday: "'The objects in Alaska and Canada are in pretty remote terrain -- ice, wilderness, all of that -- making it difficult to find them in winter weather.

"And the object over Lake Huron now lies in what is probably very deep water."

Mr Kirby said the weather conditions off the coast of South Carolina had made it harder for divers to collect the debris.

He added: "'Weather conditions are pretty tough off the coast right now."

However, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin assured Americans the objects are not presently a threat to anyone on the ground.

He revealed: "'I want to reassure Americans that these objects do not present a military threat to anyone on the ground.

"They do however, present a risk to civil aviation, and potentially an intelligence collection threat. And we'll get to the bottom of it."

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