Initially, the US authorities acknowledged the incident as the loss of a civilian weather research aircraft operated by NASA, Espionage photographic aerial reconnaissance deep into Soviet territory.
Answer: The USA claimed the plane was doing weather research. Actually, the new type of airplane was spying, taking reconnaissance photographs of the USSR.
Explanation: The U2 plane’s pilot had ejected before it crashed. He was captured by the Soviets. So the USA’s true purpose became known. Eventually, the USA arranged a prisoner exchange to get their pilot back.
