The US has shot down an unknown object flying in its airspace, off the coastline of Alaska.

The object, shot down on the order of President Joe Biden, was flying at a high-altitude of about 40,000 feet and was the size of a small car, the White House said.

It posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights, said John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman.

It was unclear where the object came from.

“We don’t know who owns this object,” said Mr Kirby.

The incident happened just days after the US downed a Chinese balloon believed to be a spy aircraft.

China maintained the balloon was an airship for scientific research that had accidentally flown over the US.

That balloon was shot down by fighter jets off the coast of South Carolina.

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