The Pentagon says it is investigating a possible rogue missile launch detected off the coast of Southern California.
“Nobody within the Department of Defense (DoD) that we’ve reached out to has been able to explain what this contrail is, where it came from,” Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan told CBS News.
“[But] so far, we’ve come up empty with any explanation.”
Lapan added that officials were currently liaising with Air Force, Navy and NORAD, as well as civilian authorities who control and monitor air space.
“Right now, all indications are that there was no DoD involvement in this,” he said, noting that “some object” may have been launched by a private company.
“At this point, until we know more information about what it may have been, there is not alarm…But that could change depending on what we find out.”
Although the US military has thus far been unable to positively identify the object, NORAD issued a joint statement with NORTHCOM claiming that the contrail was not from a foreign-launched missile.
“[Yes], we can confirm…there is no threat to our nation, and from all indications, this was not a launch by a foreign military.
“[But] we will provide more information as it becomes available.”
