On February 11, 2023, a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor engaged and shot down an unidentified object over Canada’s Yukon Territory in a joint NORAD operation. The incident marked the third object engaged in North America during the escalating shoot-down sequence of early February 2023, and represented the first use of NORAD’s intercept protocol for an unidentified airborne object in 64 years.
The object was described as cylindrical in shape, with the top quarter constructed of metallic material and the remainder white. Most notably, a 20-foot wire hung below the object with an unidentified package suspended from it. The exact nature and origin of the suspended package remained unclear, contributing to the decision to engage.
The Operation
The shoot-down was authorized in coordination between President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, reflecting the joint nature of NORAD operations. The F-22 fired an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile to neutralize the threat. Following the engagement, Canadian Armed Forces personnel conducted the ground search and recovery operation in the remote Yukon Territory.
Recovery and Disclosure
Details regarding the recovery remained limited in the immediate aftermath. Canadian authorities released some information through their freedom-of-information equivalent processes, though much of the operational detail was withheld. The initial secrecy surrounding the incident lasted several months until September 2024, when an image of the object was finally released publicly, providing the first visual confirmation of the cylindrical craft and its distinctive appearance.
Prime Minister Trudeau confirmed in subsequent statements that he had authorized the shoot-down in full coordination with the United States, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the response and the necessity of protecting North American airspace during the period of heightened incidents.
Luna’s Documentation Request
This incident is among the 46 specific videos and materials requested by Luna in her March 2026 letter to relevant authorities, indicating continued public and investigative interest in obtaining comprehensive documentation of the early February 2023 events.