{"id":72265,"date":"2023-02-17T16:54:43","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T16:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/02\/17\/chinese-spy-balloon-clean-up-complete\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:26:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:26:51","slug":"chinese-spy-balloon-clean-up-complete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/02\/17\/chinese-spy-balloon-clean-up-complete\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese spy balloon clean-up complete"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Navy, Coast Guard and federal law enforcement personnel have finished recovering debris from the Chinese spy balloon<\/a> downed off the coast of South Carolina<\/a> earlier this month, the Pentagon announced Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The debris field covered roughly 1500 square meters in water 50 feet deep, according to the news release. The operation wrapped up Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFinal pieces of debris are being transferred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory in Virginia for counterintelligence exploitation, as has occurred with the previous surface and subsurface debris recovered,\u201d the release said. \u201cU.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard vessels have departed the area. Air and maritime safety perimeters have been lifted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dock landing ship Carter Hall, the oceanographic survey ship Pathfinder and the Coast Guard cutters Venturous, Nathan Bruckenthal and Richard Snyder were all on site as part of the recovery over the past two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\t