US fighter jet shoots down unidentified object over Canada

A United States fighter jet has shot down an unidentified cylindrical object over Canada in a joint operation by the North American neighbours.

The shootdown on Saturday was the second such action in as many days and comes as North America appeared on heightened alert following a week-long saga over a suspected Chinese spying balloon.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first announced the shootdown over the Yukon territory in the country’s north and said Canadian forces would recover and analyse the wreckage.