Explanation: The U-2 was a US spy plane of the Cold War which flew too high to be intercepted by Soviet air defenses. Since it was unable to be intercepted, the Soviets were also reluctant to admit to its existence, even in accusations, as it would be an admission of weakness. This gave the U-2 an aura of invulnerability in most cases.

MOST cases.

After a U-2 intruding on Soviet airspace was successfully shot down, the USA attempted to claim it was just an innocent weather-monitoring plane that had flown off course.

The Soviets, then, gleefully revealed that they had both the pilot and the plane's film rolls, which were filled with photos of Soviet military bases.

On 7 May, Khrushchev sprang his trap and announced:[10]

I must tell you a secret. When I made my first report I deliberately did not say that the pilot was alive and well ... and now just look how many silly things the Americans have said.

... the US then had no choice but to walk back their denial and admit it was a spy plane, and that they had been spying with the U-2 for the past several years.