Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Feb. 5, 2023.

Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler Thompson

• Photos show US sailors pulling the downed Chinese balloon out of the ocean. 
• The balloon first appeared over the Pacific Northwest last Friday and was shot down Saturday. 
• A second balloon, which China also admitted belonged to them, was seen over Latin America. 

US Navy photos capture the moment sailors pulled a downed Chinese balloon out of the ocean. 

The balloon, which China has admitted belongs to them, first appeared Friday flying over the US Pacific Northwest. It was later shot down by the US military on Saturday off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Soldiers have since been collecting debris from the balloon to get more information about its purpose. 

Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Feb. 5, 2023.

Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler Thompson

The Navy photos, published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, show sailors pulling the dismembered balloon, which is now a mess of plastic and fabric, from the Atlantic Ocean for investigation. 

A second balloon then appeared floating over Latin America was also spotted last week, which China confirmed belonged to them on Monday. 

Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Feb. 5, 2023.

Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler Thompson

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.