Chinese spy balloon did not gather data over US: Pentagon

The balloon was shot down on Feb 4 just off the South Carolina coast, and was recovered from the Atlantic ocean by the US military. - AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP): The Chinese spy balloon shot down by a US fighter jet over the Atlantic in February did not collect intelligence as it flew across the United States, the Pentagon said Thursday (June 29).

"It's been our assessment now that it did not collect while it was transiting the United States or overflying the United States," said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.