Texas hot air balloon crash kills everyone on board, authorities say

By Patrick Hogan  |  July 30, 2016 | 7:32pm
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At least 16 people are feared dead after a hot air balloon crashed in Central Texas on Saturday morning, killing everyone aboard, according to local law enforcement.

The Federal Aviation Authority confirmed it was investigating the crash of a balloon owned by Heart of Texas Balloon Rides in Lockhart, Texas.

Authorities say the balloon was carrying 16 passengers when it caught fire and crashed. The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office released a statement that “it does not appear at this time that there were any survivors.”

Margaret Wiley, who lives near the site of the crash, told The Associated Press, she heard multiple “pop” noises and then saw an explosion while she was out walking her dog that morning.

“I looked around and it was like a fireball going up,” Wiley said.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the highest loss of life previously from a hot air balloon crash in the U.S. was 6 people in a 1993 accident in Colorado.

 
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