04 February 2023 , 18:03
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US president Joe Biden said the Government is actively dealing with a spy balloon from China.
Joe Biden told reporters "we'll take care of it" on Saturday, as he was asked whether there were plans to shoot down the balloon.
The surveillance balloon was sighted travelling across Canadian territory on Wednesday before being spotted by civilians over the city of Billings, Montana.
Chinese authorities have insisted it was a weather balloon, and had likely been blown off-course by the country's westerly winds.
The balloon was seen above Montana on Wednesday and was pictured above Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Pentagon officials, meanwhile, claimed they've been tracking the balloon over the country's airspace, and that it had flown over Malmstrom Air Force base in the northwestern state.
'Chinese spy balloon' sparks concern after flying over sensitive sites in the US
The balloon was reportedly still flying over the country and was spotted near Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday.
NBC reports President Biden broke his silence and spoke for the first time on Saturday since news of the balloon came out.
When asked if it would be shot down, he replied: "We're going to take care of it."
Biden answered the question after stepping off Air Force One, at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York, for a family visit following a recent bereavement.
It comes as the FAA announced it would be closing three airports on Saturday as well as airspace over parts of North and South Carolina.
Flights were held at airports in Charleston, Wilmington and Myrtle Beach as the balloon crossed the two states.