New image captures UFO over Canada moments before US air force fighter jet shoots it down

A photograph of an unidentified flying object (UFO) shot down by a US fighter jet over Canadian airspace in February 2023 has been released. The blurry image shows a cylindrical object hovering before it was taken down in Canada's Yukon Territory, near the Alaskan border. The photo, obtained by CTVNews through an information request from Canada's department of national defence, appears to be a photocopy of an email printout.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command first detected the "high-altitude airborne object" at around 40,000 feet over Alaska. Jets were then dispatched to observe it. The object moved from Alaska into Canadian airspace before being downed on February 11, 2023. This event followed the downing of a Chinese surveillance balloon and was one of three aerial objects shot down in that month.



Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, "Yesterday afternoon, I also spoke with President Biden and confirmed together that we will continue to do everything necessary to protect the sovereignty of our shared North American airspace but also to do everything necessary to keep our citizens safe."

The object, believed to be a "small metallic balloon with a tethered payload," was downed by a US F-22 Raptor using an AIM 9X missile. President Biden later stated that the three objects were not related to the Chinese spy balloon incident. The Canadian government first declassified the UFO image and later authorized its release to the public.

There was some internal discussion among officials about whether the image should be made public. The acting assistant deputy minister for public affairs noted in an internal email, "Should the image be released, it would be via the [Canadian armed forces] social media accounts. Given the current public environment and statements related to the object being benign, releasing the image may create more questions/confusion, regardless of the text that will accompany the post." The release was postponed pending "US engagement."