A senior U.S. official confirmed on Sunday that the unidentified “objects” shot down by the U.S. over Canada and Alaska this weekend were both believed to be balloons carrying a payload. The object over Canada was described by U.S. officials as a “small metallic balloon with a tethered payload.” On Sunday Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he learned after a briefing on the incidents that both objects were “much smaller” than the Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over a week ago. The U.S. and Canada are working to remove debris and have said the crafts’ origins are unknown.
