Mysterious objects shot down over United States and Canada likely 'benign', as officials admit first missile missed its Lake Huron target

The news of China's surveillance balloon being shot down was followed by multiple potentially harmless take downs.  (AP: US Navy )

United States officials have admitted the three mysterious objects shot down in the last week were likely "benign" — and that the first missile fired at one of them missed its target.

The US military's first shot at the unknown object over Lake Huron "landed harmlessly" over the Canadian border.