Three Minnesota passengers had a lucky escape Wednesday when their hot air balloon hit a power line, causing the basket to collapse and a fire to break out, according to dramatic video footage.
The incident occurred around 6:50 p.m. as the balloon was about to land in a field in Rochester, Rochester police said.
Police said strong wind gusts caused the balloon to veer off course and crash into power lines on Highway 63 between Southeast 40th Avenue and Southeast 48th Avenue.
Three Minnesota passengers had a lucky escape Wednesday when their hot air balloon hit a power line, causing the basket to collapse and a fire to break out, according to dramatic video footage. (MnDOT via Storyful)
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The video shows a hot air balloon carrying blue, red and white colored envelopes slowly descending along a highway on a calm, bright evening.
The lighter-than-air aircraft then heads toward the road and hits a power line, causing several electrical sparks to fly off.
The basket slams to the ground and the envelope flies into the sky. Police said the basket fell about 20 to 30 feet high.
Several fires are then seen breaking out and smoke rising into the air. Many vehicles stop to view the scene before police and firefighters arrive.
The basket fell to the ground and the envelope flew into the air. Police said the basket fell about 20 to 30 feet. (Minnesota Department of Transportation, via Storyful)
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Police said there were three passengers in the car, two of whom suffered “very minor” injuries.
Police said a small brush fire started next to the basket and was quickly extinguished by the Rochester Fire Department. The balloon was several miles away.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident, police said.
Footage shows several fires breaking out and white smoke billowing into the air. (Minnesota Department of Transportation, via Storyful)
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Rochester Fire Department Capt. Chad Kuhlman said the passengers were lucky to survive.
“Everyone is miraculously okay,” Kuhlman told KIMT News 3.
“They got stuck on the power line. They were hanging on the power line in the basket and there was some sparking. Eventually the wire came off, the basket came off, and they fell off the wire to the ground. ” he said. He said.
In January, a hot air balloon crashed in the Arizona desert, killing four people and seriously injuring one.
