A pilot took an amazing selfie with the Chinese spy balloon

What a pic.
By Tim Marcin  on 
interior view of cockpit with pilot and chinese spy balloon on horizon
What a shot. Credit: US Department of Defense / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Every once in a while, you get the perfect photo. Maybe the lighting is just right in a certain bathroom mirror. Or maybe you caught the sunset just so. Or maybe, it's just a good pic — I, for instance, really like one from my wedding.

Well, one pilot snapped a selfie that is going to be hard to top. It's a pretty perfect photo. They were able to get a selfie alongside the now-infamous Chinese spy balloon that dotted across the United States before being the first in a string of airborne objects shot down by the U.S. military.

I mean, just look at this amazing photo. I might suspect it of being a social media hoax if it hadn't been released by the Department of Defense.

Mashable Top Stories
Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.
Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
interior plane view of pilot viewing balloon high above earth
What an angle on this shot. Credit: US Department of Defense / Handout / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

What an incredible selfie — the way you can see the pilot's helmet, the stunning, near-space horizon and the balloon floating on by.

The Pentagon released the photo taken by the pilot of a U-2 spy plane, which is a glider-esque aircraft capable of operating at high altitudes. The Chinese spy balloon was apparently floating at about 60,000 feet when it was spotted. The photo was taken on Feb. 3 over the continental U.S., the Department of Defense said, just one day before it was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean.

The high-profile sighting of the spy balloon, in part, helped spark a rapid, sudden increase in UFOs being shot down in the U.S. The country was apparently expanded its parameters in the aircraft it was searching for, which meant they ended up shooting down four UFOs in just one month.

While we haven't gotten a good look at those other objects, we now have an incredible image of the balloon that started it all.

Topics Viral Videos

Mashable Image
Tim Marcin

Tim Marcin is a culture reporter at Mashable, where he writes about food, fitness, weird stuff on the internet, and, well, just about anything else. You can find him posting endlessly about Buffalo wings on Twitter at @timmarcin.


Recommended For You
Prime Day 2024 is coming: 130+ of the best early deals you can already shop
Glowing cardboard box on a blue background



The best day of summer is here — it's free Slurpee day at 7-Eleven
three green slurpees on a purple background

Get 25% off JetBlue flights this fall
Plane with JetBlue logo on tail flying through sky

More in Life
The best outdoor deals already live ahead of Prime Day
By Jillian Anthony
Outdoor gear at Amazon

Get a Walmart+ subscription for a year for just $49
By Palash Volvoikar
Exterior of a Walmart store, showing the name

Walmart's new Prime Day-rivaling sale is already much better than Walmart+ Week
Walmart package on countertop

Target's Circle Week is here — grab deals through July 13
A person carrying a paper Target shopping bag against a red wall

Heads up Prime members: Score two free Kindle books during the month of July
a person reads on a kindle e-reader while sitting on the ground outside

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 11
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for July 11
a phone displaying Wordle

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 12
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for July 12
a phone displaying Wordle

'The Acolyte' keeps referencing 'The Last Jedi' — here's why
The Stranger on the unknown planet.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!