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Mysterious Object Spotted Over Little Detroit Lake

By Karen Downing Jul 1, 2026 | 3:21 PM

Detroit Lakes , MN (KDLM)-

A Little Detroit Lake resident got an unexpected surprise this week after spotting what appeared to be a mysterious round white object high above the lake.

Mary Brill says she noticed the object Tuesday morning about 8 am and it seemed to stay in the same place, even though it was a windy day. She wondered if it might be a weather balloon, but wasn’t sure. She also considered whether it could be the International Space Station, but realized it was the wrong time of day to see it.

Curious, Brill called the Detroit Lakes Becker County Airport.

Frank Lottino, who works at the airport confirmed the object was, in fact, a balloon flying at about 58,000 feet. Lottino says what made it unusual was that airport staff tracked the balloon as it drifted toward Fergus Falls before it appeared to completely reverse direction. Odd behavior but guessed it was likely because of changing winds at different altitudes.

Lottino says he was later told the balloon may have been a high-altitude communications balloon used to relay communications between satellites and Earth. However, that information has not been independently confirmed.

Detroit Lakes , MN (KDLM)- A Little Detroit Lake resident got an unexpected surprise this week after spotting what appeared to be a mysterious round white object high above the lake. Mary Brill says she noticed the object Tuesday morning about 8 am and it seemed to stay in the same place, even though it was a windy day...
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