A standard high-altitude research tool became the world's most-tracked aircraft after thousands of people mistook it for the suspected Chinese spy balloon

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A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, on February 1, 2022.
A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, on February 1, 2022.

Chase Doak/via REUTERS

Montana resident captures footage of possible Chinese spy balloon

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  • A suspected Chinese spy balloon hovered over Montana.
  • In response, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a Beijing trip.
  • China said the balloon is for weather research and strayed off course.

Eyewitnesses in Montana caught cell

A suspected Chinese spy balloon was seen operating near a US nuclear base housing 150 Minuteman ICBMs

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montana silo
The hatch leading to the Minuteman III launch Facility silo E5 in Fergus County, Montana on April 8, 2022.

Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

China admits the 'spy balloon' over the US belongs to it, but insists it wasn't for spying and ended up there by accident

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A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, on February 1, 2022.
A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, on February 1, 2022.

Chase Doak/via REUTERS

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