On September 25, 2024, Canada released the first-ever image of a UFO shot down during a chase over Alaska and the Yukon Territory, following the February 2023 Chinese spy balloon incident.
The grainy photo shows a circular white object with indistinct edges, taken down by a U.S. Air Force F-22 stealth fighter in a joint operation with Canadian Forces. Notably, the image was marked 'unclassified' shortly after the incident.
Official communications revealed concerns within the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) regarding potential public confusion stemming from the release. Taylor Paxton, director of electronic communications at DND, indicated that any social media posting could provoke more questions from the public.
Canadian Brigadier General Eric Laforest described the UFO as a 'cylindrical object' with a metallic top, a white body, and a 20-foot cable hanging below, attached to a package of some kind.
This incident is part of a broader context involving four aerial objects shot down by the U.S. in February 2023, coinciding with heightened scrutiny of national security and UFO activity.
Experts, including Iain Boyd from the University of Colorado, suggest that military reluctance to provide further details reflects concerns over national security vulnerabilities, potentially fueling conspiracy theories.