Hot Air Ballon Crash
In a dramatic turn of events over the weekend, a group of skydivers barely escaped disaster when they leaped from a hot air balloon moments before it crashed in the Arizona desert. The incident ended in tragedy. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
The incident happened at approximately 7:50 AM in the vicinity of Eloy City, just on the outskirts of South Phoenix. According to local law enforcement, the balloon descended into a deserted expanse to the east of Sunshine Boulevard and Hanna Road.
Eloy Mayor Micah Powell confirmed that the hot air balloon was carrying a total of thirteen individuals, including the operator, four passengers, and eight skydivers.
After the eight skydivers jumped from the hot air balloon, the balloon suddenly crashed to the ground, stated Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney at a news conference.
While the precise reason for the crash remains unclear, initial data indicates that the balloon experienced an "unspecified issue with its envelope,"(which is the balloon part of the air craft) according to the National Transportation Safety Board, which is currently probing the incident.
An eyewitness reported to officials that moments before the crash, "The fabric of the hot air balloon was completely vertical, and the collision was quite significant," as stated by the Arizona mayor.
One individual lost their life at the incident site, while three others passed away post-hospital admission, as per the mayor's statement. The critically injured individual was rushed to a Phoenix trauma center, he had said.
The police disclosed on Monday that the four victims were Chayton Wiescholek, 28, of Union City, Michigan; Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, of Andrews, Indiana; Atahan Kiliccote, 24, of Cupertino, California; and Cornelius van der Walt, 37, originally from South Africa and living in Eloy. Van der Walt was the pilot, as per the Eloy Police Department. Valerie Stutterheim, 23, from Scottsdale, Arizona, was critically injured in the event, according to the police.
Jennifer Hubartt, Bartrom’s mother, said her daughter had traveled from Indiana to Arizona with friends and that she was “really enjoying the experience and having fun and seeing a new place that she had never seen before.”
The NTSB reports that the balloon was an A-160 model made by Cameron Balloons. This model, as per the maker's website, can accommodate a pilot and up to seven passengers. Cameron Balloons has been contacted by CNN for a statement.
The hot air balloon crash near Eloy City, Arizona, highlights the inherent risks of adventure sports. The incident resulted in the loss of four lives and left one critically injured. The National Transportation Safety Board's ongoing investigation is expected to know the exact cause of the crash and could potentially lead to enhanced safety measures in the future.
By Charlee Rice