Indeed it was handled badly. I don't buy the claim that they didn't shoot it down due to fear of causing damage to ground personnel and installation. Montana has to be one of the most sparsely populated states in the U.S. There is like literally a million people spread out over a huge stretch of land. If you think that wreckage from a flimsy high altitude balloon could cause serious damage then I've got a bridge to sell to you.
They should at the very least have attempted a shoot down.
LMAO.