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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Guardian staff

Pentagon releases selfie of US pilot flying above Chinese spy balloon

Pentagon United States
Pilot wearing helmet with spy balloon visible through window of jet.
The spy balloon was first spotted by the public above Montana. Photograph: Department of Defense/Getty Images

The Pentagon has released a selfie photograph snapped by the pilot of a U2 spy plane that was hurtling through the skies above the Chinese spy balloon as the US military pursued and shot it down off the coast of South Carolina earlier this month.

The image clearly shows the mysterious, silvery-white sphere of the balloon with panels dangling below it and, whether intended artistically or not, a striking sight of the shadow of the US aircraft cast against the balloon.

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