Speculation arose among social media users that a meteor or unidentified flying object (UFO) had been intercepted by the Chinese military following the circulation of videos showing a fireball streaking across the sky and ending in a dramatic explosion.
The blazing object was observed cutting through the night sky over China’s Shandong province on September 12, with the footage indicating an explosion occurring midway through its trajectory.
Videos shared online depicted the fireball apparently being intercepted by a small bright light in the sky, leading to its instant destruction. Various clips captured different angles of the event, showing the fireball moving in a curved path before the detonation.
Discussions among online users speculated whether this incident was related to a missile intercept test. UFO researcher Tom Thompson suggested that defense analysts believed it resembled a missile-intercept trial, noting a fast-moving point of light following a curved trajectory.
Although claims about a missile test remain unconfirmed, and there has been no official statement from Chinese authorities, locals reported hearing two loud bangs resembling artillery shells, as reported by The Sun.
Another online user, UFO mania, shared thoughts on the video from China, initially considering it a meteor until it collided with another object from the left, sparking curiosity about the nature of the event.
Astrophysics expert Dr. Alfredo Carpineti, reviewing the footage, expressed skepticism about it being a meteor, highlighting the ambiguous nature of the visuals and the difficulty in definitively identifying the object. He also raised doubts about the possibility of it being a missile, citing the vast difference in speed between asteroids and hypersonic missiles.
Reportedly, China’s space program is planning a mission to target an asteroid with a spacecraft, inspired by the US’s recent success in the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in 2022. The program aims to defend against potential asteroid threats, with plans aligned to counter the risks posed by asteroids like the “city killer” asteroid 2024 YR4, which could potentially impact Earth in 2032, as per European Space Agency predictions.
