5 Injured, 1 Dead In Hot Air Balloon Crash In The Netherlands

Late connected nan evening of Wednesday, August 13, 5 group were injured and 1 personification was killed erstwhile a basking aerial balloon clang landed successful a meadow successful Friesland, an area located successful nan northbound of nan Netherlands. The balloon had been carrying 34 passengers.

The tragic mishap happened astatine astir 9:00 PM. Local Friesland authorities study that nan basking aerial balloon, which had already been descending, abruptly came down quickly and deed nan crushed difficult adjacent nan colony of De Hoeve. A typical for nan Royal Netherlands Aeronautical Association said that an unexpected gust of upwind was nan origin of nan accident, causing nan handbasket to slam difficult against nan crushed and propulsion 5 group out. The injured were promptly transported to nan section hospital. Two trauma helicopters and aggregate emergency services arrived astatine nan segment soon aft nan accident.

The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute had antecedently issued a announcement for basking aerial ballooners, predicting winds of up to 14 knots. However, winds of up to 17 knots were observed successful nan area during nan incident. 

According to officials, a balloon of this size would usually beryllium comparatively unaffected by these conditions. Local constabulary person begun an investigation into nan incident.

Hot aerial ballooning, a celebrated Netherlands pastime

This follows nan summation of popularity of basking aerial ballooning arsenic a pastime successful nan Netherlands, particularly successful nan summertime months. The number of yearly basking aerial balloon flights has astir doubled successful nan past 10 years, and nan number of passengers successful each thrust has besides doubled from 4 to 8 connected average. There are astir 100 progressive basking aerial balloon companies presently operating successful nan Netherlands.