The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Saturday that it has closed several airports in North and South Carolina in conjunction with a U.S. military effort.
The news comes as a Chinese spy balloon has drifted across the U.S. for the last few days and is now crossing South Carolina.
“The FAA has paused departures from and arrivals to Wilmington (ILM), Myrtle Beach International (MYR) and Charleston International (CHS) airports to support the Department of Defense in a national security effort,” the FAA said in a statement. “The agency has also closed airspace.”
The U.S. military shot down the spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina shortly after the FAA released its statement.
New video of the Chinese spy balloon being shot down pic.twitter.com/XwRVA7s1Hu
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) February 4, 2023
A little over an hour after their initial announcement, the FAA said that it had resumed normal operations.
“Flights to and from Wilmington (ILM), Myrtle Beach International (MYR) and Charleston International (CHS) airports are resuming,” the agency said. “Other airspace has been reopened. Normal operations resuming.”
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