Tourists fatally injured in Luxor balloon crash
Nineteen tourists have reportedly been killed in a hot air balloon crash near Luxor in Egypt. Initial reports suggest that among those killed in the crash are British, French, Belgian, Hungarian and Japanese and Chinese nationals, while several people, including the pilot of the balloon, survived the incident. Hot air balloon rides that take off at dawn are popular in the region, offering tourists an aerial view of famous sites such as the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
A witness who had just landed in another hot air balloon at the time of the crash said she heard an explosion and saw flames emanating from the balloon, and told the BBC: “People were jumping out of the balloon from about the height of a seven-storey building.” A local Egyptian who reportedly witnessed the accident said the disaster occured when the balloon was near to the ground, as ground crews were trying to secure the balloon using ropes hanging from the basket. The ropes then became caught up in the gas cylinder leads, and the sharpness of the ropes caused the cylinder leads to sever, which then caused a fire. At that point, the pilot and one of the passengers jumped out, causing the balloon to unbalance and the balloon to take flight again, before exploding and crashing to the ground.
UK tour operator Thomas Cook confirmed that four of its clients had been in the balloon when the accident occured, two of whom had died in the crash, while the other two were sent to local hospitals for treatment. The company later confirmed that one client had died in hospital. Kuoni, a fellow tour operator, confirmed that there were nine Chinese nationals onboard.
Following the accident, a spokesperson from the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We can confirm the tragic deaths of two British Nationals and one British resident following a hot air balloon crash in Luxor, Egypt. The next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with them and their families at this difficult time. We are providing them with consular assistance. We can also confirm that one other British National was involved and is in a stable condition. We have had consular officials in Luxor since early this morning who have been focussed on providing consular assistance and supporting the Egyptian authorities. Our Ambassador to Egypt has met the injured British National and has offered our assistance”.