A hot air balloon crashed into power lines and came down in a fiery collapse. Now, many are asking, “Why were they flying so low?” INSIDE EDITION has the scoop.
INSIDE EDITION is learning more about the fiery mishap when a hot air balloon collided with power lines. Moments before things went bad, six people, including a grandmother, were enjoying a birthday balloon ride over a Boston suburb.
According to reports, the pilot tried to land the balloon in a backyard. Neighbors armed with cell phones captured the ride.
"Hey, where do you live?" asked a neighbor filming the incident.
"Right here in this yard," said one man in the balloon, as they pointed.
In the video, the balloon floated dangerously close to the power lines. You could hear one guy express concern about the low-flying hot air balloon.
"Keep it going, you gotta get that higher," said a neighbor. "Please don't end in disaster."
Seconds later, an explosion lit up the sky and smoke rose from the balloon. Then, another shocking explosion unleashed a fireball as sparks floated down.
By some miracle, the balloon was able to land.
Now, federal investigators are questioning why the balloon was flying so low.
INSIDE EDITION's Megan Alexander spoke with hot air balloon expert Carroll Teitsworth.
Alexander asked, "How dangerous is it to fly a hot air balloon that low to the ground?"
"There is a general rule in ballooning, when we are going over wires, we want to not be in a descent," said Teitsworth. "We want to be level or climbing as we go over them. They should have stayed a little higher to avoid those power lines.
There is no doubt hot air balloon rides can go horribly wrong.
Two people died when another hot air balloon was engulfed in flames over Shreveport, Louisiana.
While getting ready for takeoff, flames from yet another balloon shot back into this basket. Luckily no one was injured.
The passengers on the Boston birthday balloon ride were also very lucky, although several sustained burns.
