Defence Chief Wanted CF-18s to Destroy Object Over Yukon, but Fighters Were Delayed

Minister of National Defence Anita Anand arrives to appear as a witness at the Standing Committee on National Defence, regarding the surveillance balloon from the People's Republic of China, in Ottawa, on Mar. 7, 2023. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang

Canada’s top military officer says it would have been “preferable” for a Canadian fighter jet to shoot down a suspected balloon over Yukon last month—but they were delayed by freezing rain.

“I gave direction that it'd be preferable for the Canadian CF-18s to do the shoot down,” Gen. Wayne Eyre said Tuesday. “But I will say they were delayed in departing Cold Lake because of freezing rain.”