Here’s the mysterious object shot down by U.S. Air Force F-22 over Yukon, Canada, last year.
In a significant development, CTVNews.ca recently obtained a photograph of the unidentified object that was shot down by U.S. Air Force F-22 over Canada’s Yukon territory in February 2023. The release of this grainy image (unclear whether it was taken from a Raptor during the intercept or from the ground) comes as part of a larger freedom of information request and has reignited discussions about the mysterious aerial incidents that captured international attention last year.
The image’s release was shrouded in secrecy, as heavily redacted documents reveal that it was approved for public distribution just days after the object was downed. However, concerns from a public affairs official at Canada’s Department of National Defence led to the image being withheld from public view. The fear, according to these internal discussions, was that releasing the image could “create more questions and confusion” rather than provide clarity. As a result, the image remained classified until now, when it finally surfaced via CTV’s access to information request.
While the image is grainy and lacks detail, it nonetheless provides the first visual confirmation of the unidentified object shot down in Yukon. Interestingly, the object itself was described in reports as a “cylindrical” item with a metallic top and a dangling wire carrying a small payload. “Visual – a cylindrical object […] “Top quarter is metallic, remainder white. 20-foot wire hanging below with a package of some sort suspended from it.”
This description aligns with the accounts of those involved in the February incident, who noted the object’s similarity to a balloon, although much remains unknown about its exact nature and purpose.
The February 2023 Shootdown: A Recap
The unidentified object was shot down by a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor on Feb. 11, 2023, just after it entered Canadian airspace over Yukon, near the border with Alaska. The engagement followed a series of similar incidents in early February 2023, including the much-publicized downing of a Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina. In fact, the Yukon shootdown was part of a rapid sequence of military responses that saw three unidentified aerial objects destroyed between Feb. 10 and 12, raising questions about what exactly was happening in the skies over North America.
These objects were notably smaller than the Chinese balloon, which was described as a massive, high-altitude surveillance device. While the object shot down over Yukon was initially labeled a “suspected balloon,” it remains unclear whether it was indeed a traditional balloon or something more advanced. The Pentagon described it as a “small, metallic balloon” with a tethered payload, but subsequent reports hinted at the possibility that it could belong to the broader category of UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena), adding to the intrigue surrounding the event.
Why Was the Image Withheld?
The decision to withhold the image of the Yukon object for over a year has sparked speculation.
According to the documents obtained by CTV, the image was declared unclassified on Feb. 15, 2023, and approved for public release. However, internal emails suggest that senior military officials, including Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre, hesitated to release the image, fearing it might create confusion and stir up unnecessary speculation.
A key concern was the public narrative surrounding the object. In the days following the incident, both U.S. and Canadian officials downplayed the threat posed by the Yukon object, suggesting it was likely a benign device, possibly a research balloon. Releasing the image, some officials feared, could have contradicted this narrative or led to further scrutiny of the military’s handling of these mysterious objects.
Additionally, Canadian officials were awaiting input from their U.S. counterparts before proceeding with the release. Ultimately, the photo was never shared with the public, despite its declassification, until now.
The Bigger Picture: A Surge in Unidentified Objects
As explained, the Yukon shootdown occurred during a highly unusual week for North American air defense. Between Feb. 10 and 12, 2023 three unidentified objects were shot down: one over Alaska, one over Yukon, and the third over Lake Huron. These incidents followed the high-profile downing of the Chinese balloon on Feb. 4, which itself had sparked a wave of criticism over how long the U.S. military allowed it to traverse the country before taking action.
NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) responded more swiftly to these subsequent incursions, scrambling fighter jets to intercept and neutralize the objects before they could drift over populated areas. The quick succession of shootdowns indicated heightened vigilance, but also fueled concerns about the vulnerability of U.S. and Canadian airspace to unidentified or unauthorized intrusions.
Despite the swift military response, efforts to recover debris from the Yukon object, as well as the objects downed over Alaska and Lake Huron, were hampered by harsh winter weather and remote terrain. Search operations were called off by Feb. 17, leaving many questions unanswered about the origin and purpose of these objects.
A Lingering Mystery
What makes the incidents of February 2023 particularly intriguing is the lack of concrete details about the objects themselves. While the Chinese balloon was clearly identified as a surveillance device, the other three objects remain largely mysterious. The fact that no debris has been recovered has only fueled speculation about their nature. U.S. President Joe Biden suggested that the objects were likely benign, potentially private or research balloons, but the absence of detailed imagery or wreckage has left room for alternative theories.
The limited information provided by the military has also stoked conspiracy theories, with some speculating that these objects could be of extraterrestrial origin or advanced surveillance technology deployed by rival states. Experts, however, caution against such conclusions.
In the wake of these incidents, both the Pentagon and NASA have ramped up their efforts to investigate UAPs, a term that has largely replaced the older “UFO” terminology in official discourse. Meanwhile, Canada’s Sky Canada Project, led by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor, is expected to release its own report on UAP sightings in 2024, potentially shedding more light on these mysterious encounters.
As the mystery around the Yukon object persists, one thing is clear: the events of February 2023 have highlighted the need for more transparency and a better understanding of the unidentified objects that occasionally violate North American airspace.
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
