0 00:00:00,009 --> 00:00:02,380 That we begin tonight with the breaking headline late today. 1 00:00:02,390 --> 00:00:05,699 The Pentagon briefing reporters just before we came on the air saying they 2 00:00:05,710 --> 00:00:10,500 are now tracking a suspected Chinese spy balloon hovering over the northern us. 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,109 It was spotted over Montana and other northern states, Montana, 4 00:00:14,119 --> 00:00:17,194 of course home to several sensitive nuclear sites. 5 00:00:17,204 --> 00:00:19,965 Now we are told the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon is 6 00:00:19,975 --> 00:00:23,905 the size of three buses with a technology base suspended below 7 00:00:24,055 --> 00:00:27,084 and for a time in Montana air traffic control imposing a 8 00:00:27,094 --> 00:00:30,135 ground stop at the buildings airport in the last 24 hours 9 00:00:30,454 --> 00:00:31,354 and look at this tonight, 10 00:00:31,364 --> 00:00:34,544 the contrails from F-22 seen in the sky as they circled 11 00:00:34,555 --> 00:00:37,694 an area where the balloon was spotted southwest of the city 12 00:00:38,049 --> 00:00:38,430 tonight. 13 00:00:38,439 --> 00:00:40,560 A senior defense official saying President Biden was 14 00:00:40,569 --> 00:00:42,869 briefed that he asked for military options. 15 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:46,700 So this evening, what next? And is there any possible threat here? 16 00:00:46,729 --> 00:00:49,419 Abc's Terry Moran leading us off from the White House tonight 17 00:00:49,930 --> 00:00:50,430 tonight. 18 00:00:50,439 --> 00:00:54,840 A senior defense official says authorities are tracking a giant Chinese spy 19 00:00:54,849 --> 00:00:58,560 balloon that has been hovering over the northern US for several days. 20 00:00:58,569 --> 00:01:00,099 This thing is up in the sky 21 00:01:00,509 --> 00:01:02,840 and I have no idea what it is. 22 00:01:03,150 --> 00:01:07,839 The United States government has detected and is tracking a high altitude 23 00:01:07,849 --> 00:01:11,760 surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now. 24 00:01:11,769 --> 00:01:12,000 So 25 00:01:12,502 --> 00:01:13,172 ABC news, 26 00:01:13,182 --> 00:01:15,883 the unmanned high altitude balloon is the size 27 00:01:15,892 --> 00:01:19,133 of three buses with a technology bay underneath. 28 00:01:19,182 --> 00:01:22,373 Officials say President Biden asked for military options 29 00:01:22,383 --> 00:01:24,693 but decided to follow the recommendation of senior 30 00:01:24,703 --> 00:01:27,392 military leaders not to shoot the balloon down 31 00:01:27,402 --> 00:01:29,682 due to safety risks for people on the ground 32 00:01:29,852 --> 00:01:32,843 that balloon spotted over Montana forcing a temporary 33 00:01:32,852 --> 00:01:35,685 ground stop Wednesday at the airport in Billings, 34 00:01:35,695 --> 00:01:38,346 that ground stop covering a 50 mile radius. 35 00:01:38,356 --> 00:01:41,416 No flights including commercial air traffic were allowed to 36 00:01:41,426 --> 00:01:43,725 land or take off for at least an hour. 37 00:01:43,935 --> 00:01:47,435 Montana is home to several sensitive nuclear weapons sites. 38 00:01:47,445 --> 00:01:51,325 The US moved quickly to shield them once the balloon was detected, 39 00:01:51,335 --> 00:01:53,835 the US government acted immediately to protect 40 00:01:53,846 --> 00:01:56,246 against the collection of sensitive information. 41 00:01:56,839 --> 00:01:59,059 Well, this is really something let's get right to Terry Moran. 42 00:01:59,069 --> 00:02:00,389 He's live at the White House tonight. 43 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,500 Terry, we know the Pentagon briefing reporters just before we came on tonight. 44 00:02:03,510 --> 00:02:04,650 So what are they saying about 45 00:02:04,769 --> 00:02:06,370 any potential threat here? 46 00:02:06,379 --> 00:02:10,149 No threat to civilians and has the US reached out to China? 47 00:02:11,070 --> 00:02:11,429 That's right. 48 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:11,630 David, 49 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:13,929 the Pentagon does say that they have been tracking this 50 00:02:13,940 --> 00:02:16,800 balloon that it does not pose a threat to civilians. 51 00:02:16,809 --> 00:02:18,899 They also say it's not the first time that a handful 52 00:02:18,910 --> 00:02:22,229 of other times over several years dating back to previous administrations. 53 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,179 They've seen balloons like this. 54 00:02:24,259 --> 00:02:27,539 They say they do not think it poses an intelligence risk 55 00:02:27,550 --> 00:02:31,919 and they have communicated to China that this cannot continue. 56 00:02:31,929 --> 00:02:32,380 David 57 00:02:32,740 --> 00:02:35,860 still unsettling Terry Moran leading us off tonight. Terry. Thank you. 58 00:02:36,759 --> 00:02:38,289 Hi, everyone. George Stephanopoulos here. 59 00:02:38,300 --> 00:02:40,649 Thanks for checking out the ABC news youtube channel. 60 00:02:40,660 --> 00:02:44,089 If you'd like to get more videos, show highlights and watch live event coverage, 61 00:02:44,100 --> 00:02:47,410 click on the right over here to subscribe to our channel and 62 00:02:47,419 --> 00:02:50,410 don't forget to download the ABC news app for breaking news alerts. 63 00:02:50,419 --> 00:02:51,229 Thanks for watching.