(Tribune News Service) — A mysterious orb floating over Hawaii prompted the U.S. military to scramble fighter jets to investigate, authorities reported.
The object seen over Kauai on Monday, Feb. 14, appeared to be an unmanned balloon with no identification markings, Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, Hawaii’s adjutant general, said in a series of Twitter posts.
Local officials and onlookers identified the fighter jets as F-22s, The Drive reported.
Residents said the bright white orb appeared to be stationary, Hawaii News Now reported. Some reported hearing “loud booms” and speculated the military had shot it down.
Military officials said they did not fire on the object, according to the publication. They are continuing to track the orb.
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An F-22 Raptor, assigned to the 199th Fighter Squadron, lands on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, in 2017. (Heather Redman/U.S. Air Force)
