Falcon Heene Found Safe; Not the Only Balloon Mishap

Authorities have just found the 6-year-old boy who was thought to have floated off in a homemade helium balloon in northeastern Colorado. The balloon landed about 50 miles away from its origin, but the boy was not inside. The young boy, identified as Falcon Heene, youngest son of Richard and Mayumi Heene, was reportedly seen by his older brother climbing into a box attached to the bottom of the balloon. The box, intended to hold batteries, was damaged but still attached to the balloon. The boy was found hiding in a box in the family's attic.

Stories like these capture national attention because many people ask themselves how could this happen? There have been several hot air balloon mishaps that have captured significant attention in the last few years.

For example, just yesterday a hot air balloon exploded over Yangshuo and crashed into this popular tourist area in China. This accident killed four Dutch tourists, injured another Dutch tourist, and injured the two pilots. Because of the highly scenic area, birds-eye tours have recently become popular. They are supposed to be regulated, but there are numerous stories of safety issues with the vendors. Despite the risks and frequent safety issues, tourists continue to book the balloon flights.

In another recent mishap, earlier this month, a pilot on a hot air balloon fell from his balloon, hitting a corporate tent on park grounds in Albuquerque, NM. The man sustained minor injuries. His co-pilot was taken to the hospital but released.

Amazingly, there is even a Web site, Hot Air Balloon Accidents, dedicated to covering these kinds of accidents. One accident it covers happened in September 2007 in Westport, MA. This balloon crashed through a power line, leaving 100 homes without power. Fortunately, none of the passengers was seriously injured despite crashing and being dragged through a cornfield.

Sources

HotAirBalloonAccidents.com
ABC7 News
ABC6 Action News
TimesOnline
ABC6 Action News
WFXT Fox 25