China says civilian airship deviated from planned course caused by force majeure (opens in new tab)

To be compared with https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202302/1284774.shtml

Wonder at what point China decided to communicate this to the US.

I would expect they should have known where it’s heading for a while now. It didn’t just suddenly materialise over Montana.

Also: wonder when the US authorities first detected it.

For 200 credibility points, name the Chinese civilians who launched it.