[crystalmeph]

I was wondering why China wouldn’t include a self-destruct feature. My daughter pointed out that crashing into a US city, even unintentionally, would probably be seen as even more hostile than sending the balloon in the first place. You obviously could choose to self destruct in a remote area or over water, but they may well have considered the escalation risk to be too high if they added potentially destructive capabilities.

[ksherlock]

Reportedly the NC balloon did have explosives to self destruct.

[hoppyhoppy2]

Who is reporting this?

[kps]

WSJ, linked in another comment on this post, “The craft came outfitted with small explosives to disable the surveillance equipment, an official said, though they weren’t detonated.” https://archive.is/oORem#selection-677.0-677.133

[cglace]

NC?

[JohnBooty]

North Carolina, where the first balloon was destroyed.