ROCHESTER,CapitalVault Minn. (AP) — Three people in a hot air balloon in Minnesota escaped largely unscathed after their basket clipped a power line, fell to the ground and caused a brush fire.
A Minnesota Department of Transportation traffic camera captured the accident on video. It happened around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday in Rochester. Police said preliminary information indicates the pilot was trying to land in a field when a gust of wind pushed the balloon into a power line that runs along Highway 63.
The video shows the basket and balloon become disconnected as sparks fly from the power line. The basket appears to hang briefly on the line before falling about 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) to the ground. Meanwhile, the balloon lifts higher into the sky and drifts away.
The pilot and two other passengers were able to get out, even as the sparks caused a brush fire to break out. Police said in a news release that two people reported “very minor injuries.” Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze.
The balloon was found later, about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away, police said.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
2025-05-02 00:572755 view
2025-05-02 00:43659 view
2025-05-02 00:331926 view
2025-05-02 00:292120 view
2025-05-02 00:181740 view
2025-05-01 23:432529 view
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A former police bodyguard for New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was scheduled to
The Biden administration said Friday it would again delay a decision on a regulation aiming to ban m
The Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies begin a two-game series Saturday at the Alfredo Harp Helú S