2024-01-15 06:28:00
(CNN) — A hot air balloon crashed this Sunday in the southern Arizona desert, leaving four people dead and another seriously injured, police announced.
The “devastating incident” occurred around 7:50 a.m. in Eloy, a city regarding 100 miles south of Phoenix, the local police department said in a news release. He fell in a desert area east of Sunshine Boulevard and Hanna Road.
Although the exact cause of the accident is unknown, preliminary information suggests it occurred following the balloon had an “unspecified problem with its envelope,” said the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident.
The victims’ identities will not be made public until authorities have notified their next of kin, according to the Eloy Police Department statement.
NTSB investigators were on scene Sunday night documenting the crash site and examining the aircraft, which will be taken to a secure facility for additional analysis in the coming days, an agency spokesperson told CNN.
The plane was an A-160 passenger balloon manufactured by Cameron Balloons, according to the NTSB. The model can carry a pilot and up to seven passengers, according to the manufacturer’s website. CNN has sought comment from Cameron Balloons.
The Eloy Police Department said it is working with the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration on the investigation.
“As we continue our efforts, we ask for your thoughts and support for the affected families and loved ones during this difficult time,” police said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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