Photo: 7KOATFive people are dead after a hot air balloon crashed into a power line Saturday morning in Albuquerque, New Mexico.The balloon’s basketcaught fire and crashedinto the median of a busy street near Central Ave. and Unser Blvd. at around 7:00 a.m. local time with five people onboard, according to KOAT.Two men and two womenwere pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, with the pilot being one of the male victims. The Albuquerque Police Department originally noted that the fifth passengerwas in critical and unstable condition, but have now confirmed that hesuccumbed to his injuriesafter being transported to a local hospital.Everyone onboard was reportedly between 40 and 60 years old.Police spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said that the balloon"skirted the tops of power lines,“causing more than 13,000 homes to lose power, according toUSA Today. New Mexico State Police also noted on Twitter thattraffic in the area was shut down, advising locals to avoid the roads.7KOATIn addition to state and local police, Albuquerque Fire Rescue was also called to the scene. The cause of the crash is currently unknown, but the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are handling the investigation.Albuquerque has been dubbed the “hot air ballooning capital of the world,” with optimal year-round conditions for ballooning. The city hosts the weeklong Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta every October, which sees about 600 balloons cover the sky, according to the event’swebsite.“Our balloonists tend to be very much experts at navigating, but sometimes we have these types of tragic accidents,” said APD spokesperson Gallegos, according toUSA Today.
Photo: 7KOAT
Five people are dead after a hot air balloon crashed into a power line Saturday morning in Albuquerque, New Mexico.The balloon’s basketcaught fire and crashedinto the median of a busy street near Central Ave. and Unser Blvd. at around 7:00 a.m. local time with five people onboard, according to KOAT.Two men and two womenwere pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, with the pilot being one of the male victims. The Albuquerque Police Department originally noted that the fifth passengerwas in critical and unstable condition, but have now confirmed that hesuccumbed to his injuriesafter being transported to a local hospital.Everyone onboard was reportedly between 40 and 60 years old.Police spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said that the balloon"skirted the tops of power lines,“causing more than 13,000 homes to lose power, according toUSA Today. New Mexico State Police also noted on Twitter thattraffic in the area was shut down, advising locals to avoid the roads.7KOATIn addition to state and local police, Albuquerque Fire Rescue was also called to the scene. The cause of the crash is currently unknown, but the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are handling the investigation.Albuquerque has been dubbed the “hot air ballooning capital of the world,” with optimal year-round conditions for ballooning. The city hosts the weeklong Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta every October, which sees about 600 balloons cover the sky, according to the event’swebsite.“Our balloonists tend to be very much experts at navigating, but sometimes we have these types of tragic accidents,” said APD spokesperson Gallegos, according toUSA Today.
Five people are dead after a hot air balloon crashed into a power line Saturday morning in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The balloon’s basketcaught fire and crashedinto the median of a busy street near Central Ave. and Unser Blvd. at around 7:00 a.m. local time with five people onboard, according to KOAT.
Two men and two womenwere pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, with the pilot being one of the male victims. The Albuquerque Police Department originally noted that the fifth passengerwas in critical and unstable condition, but have now confirmed that hesuccumbed to his injuriesafter being transported to a local hospital.
Everyone onboard was reportedly between 40 and 60 years old.
Police spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said that the balloon"skirted the tops of power lines,“causing more than 13,000 homes to lose power, according toUSA Today. New Mexico State Police also noted on Twitter thattraffic in the area was shut down, advising locals to avoid the roads.
7KOAT
In addition to state and local police, Albuquerque Fire Rescue was also called to the scene. The cause of the crash is currently unknown, but the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are handling the investigation.
Albuquerque has been dubbed the “hot air ballooning capital of the world,” with optimal year-round conditions for ballooning. The city hosts the weeklong Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta every October, which sees about 600 balloons cover the sky, according to the event’swebsite.
“Our balloonists tend to be very much experts at navigating, but sometimes we have these types of tragic accidents,” said APD spokesperson Gallegos, according toUSA Today.
source: people.com
