US pilot took selfie with Chinese ‘spy balloon’ before it was shot down
- The photo, taken in the cockpit of a U-2 Dragon Lady sent to monitor the alleged surveillance device, quickly gained ‘legendary status’ within the US military
- The Pentagon confirmed the existence of the image, which has since been released
A US Air Force pilot managed to capture a selfie with an alleged high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon the day before it was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean earlier this month, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday.
A U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane under US Northern Command authority was sent to monitor the balloon as it flew over the continental US during the final days of January and into early February.
A pilot took a picture of the balloon from the cockpit, and it began circulating online earlier this week.
Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters at a Wednesday briefing that she can “confirm the photo’s authenticity, and we are planning to release it”, when asked about the selfie.
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Insider obtained a copy of the selfie from the Air Force, which said the photo was taken over the “Central Continental” US on February 3, a day before it was shot down by an F-22 Raptor off the coast of South Carolina.
The image has since been released on the Defence Visual Information Distribution Service.
The U-2’s involvement in gathering intelligence on the spy balloon was first reported by The Drive on February 6.
CNN later reported two days later that the selfie actually existed. Officials told the outlet that the photo had “already gained legendary status” at North American Aerospace Defence Command and in the Pentagon.
Dragon Lady Today managed to get ahold of the image and published it on February 21, a day before the US military confirmed its authenticity.
U-2 spy planes are single-seat aircraft that can provide surveillance and reconnaissance from extremely high altitudes at over 21,000 metres (70,000 feet).
Because of this, pilots typically wear full-pressure suits like those worn by astronauts.
