DLNews Breaking News:

The U.S. has shot down the Chinese spy balloon off the East Coast. "This afternoon, at the direction of President Biden, U.S. warplanes (...) successfully brought down the surveillance balloon launched and owned by the People's Republic of China at high altitude over the waters off the coast of South Carolina in U.S. airspace," Lloyd Austin announced.

Joe Biden had already ordered the flying object to be shot down "as soon as possible" on Wednesday when he was informed about the balloon, the president told reporters in the U.S. state of Maryland shortly after it was shot down on Saturday.

The white balloon, believed to be carrying solar panels and spy equipment, was spotted in the northwestern United States on Wednesday. "The intent of this balloon is clearly to gather intelligence," a senior U.S. defense official said.

The China spy quickly became a top concern. "We're looking into it," Biden said Saturday before the launch on the sidelines of a private meeting in Syracuse, New York state, according to reporters traveling with him.

Three airports closed because of the balloon.

Authorities had temporarily closed three airports in the eastern part of the country. "To assist the Department of Defense with a national security measure," arrivals and departures at three airports in the states of South and North Carolina had been suspended, the aviation agency said.

The U.S. Department of Defense publicized the sighting of the Chinese balloon on Thursday evening. The balloon was spotted over the U.S. state of Montana, Central America, and also Missouri. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the intrusion of the "surveillance balloon" into U.S. airspace "unacceptable" and "irresponsible."

On Saturday, China vehemently denied the spying allegations, speaking of a research balloon blown off course by "force majeure." As a result, Blinken canceled a visit to Beijing expected on Sunday.