The Virginia Hot Air Balloon Tragedy 2014 | Short Documentary

[@trj1442]

Two things I'll never do from watching YT clips is go up in a hot air balloon or go cave diving.

[@CuriosityVaultChannel]

You and me, or from watching my own videos, I'm never going into the sea again either 😬😬

[@billythekid3234]

Oh my Lord cave diving,,,,, NOthing more terrifying to me! Maybe wing suit flying? at least it will be fast,,

[@MrChopsticktech]

I won't even walk into a cave, or ride on any amusement park rides.

[@PuntaPacifica507]

Word

[@ComettableMabel]

💯

[@alexojideagu]

Imagine choosing between burning to death or jumping to your death, the panic level is incomprehensible.

[@rockystelone21]

They got a 2 for 1 deal with death.

[@Dustyscorner1111]

Honestly I’d jump, although low, there’s still some chance of survival. Also maybe I’d get lucky and land on my head and die pretty much instantly.

[@alexojideagu]

​@@Dustyscorner1111Yeh apparently they did jump. Burning is horrific

[@jasonbender2459]

The World Trade Center circa 2001 has entered the chat.

[@joojoojeejee6058]

2 of them didn't die from the fire. So effectively they did "jump".

[@TheTruthKiwi]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who would rather go peacefully in my sleep and not screaming and on fire. What a tragic story.

[@ISayNukem]

In the middle of the damn sky.

[@12hoursAwake12hoursAsleep]

​@ISayNukem I know. Absolutely nowhere to run for help. God, how tragic. ❤

[@trafficbabe]

@@TheTruthKiwi A man named Ron was in the lobby of the World Trade Center when Jenny Ann Defeo stumbled out of the elevator on fire from jet fuel. He never left her side until he got her help. He was praying with her when the 2nd plane containing his sister and little niece hit the second tower. To see him tell his story is painful to watch. This past Christmas, Ron passed away in his sleep. He has suffered enough. I wish we all could go that way.

[@catherinebreitfeller669]

We don’t all get the chance to go peacefully.

[@carlhunter3844]

Or just peacefully period. I most cases you would be so drugged up it is like being sleep.

[@monsterram6617]

The idea of getting in a wicker basket, and using fire, ropes, and balloon to soar 10,000+ feet in the air without a parachute is utterly insane. It would be terrifying even if nothing went wrong!

[@knowsmebyname]

2:50. "Although it met all safety requirements the combination of propane, wood, and nylon would prove deadly..." No kidding? Who wants to put their life in the hands of that 3 piece?

[@brax2364]

Have to agree. I fly fixed wing and have some sky diving experience. I’m totally uninterested in getting in a balloon basket with or without a parachute.

[@reneecarter6702]

Totally agreed! 😩

[@Jonny_The_Organism]

Did you all watch to 3:50 and the power lines....sod all to do with the wicker, ropes and nylon.... remember.... power lines and pylons...it's ok colliding with one....but if ya catch the neutral at the same time....yep.... just like I called my long gone feline friend called Frazzle..

[@monsterram6617]

@@Jonny_The_Organism I did watch to 3:50 "and the power lines"... did you read to where I wrote, "even if nothing went wrong"? It goes without explanation that electrocuting what's already a bad idea to begin with, only makes things worse. Especially if you're 1000s of feet in the air.

[@thecornedbeefcouncil9792]

Ive been absolutely clear with relatives that if anyone ever buys me a Hot Air Balloon experience for a present it’ll go unused. I’d rather eat my own balls….which clearly aren’t very big.

[@MeaHeaR]

id rather be aybull to eat mie ball reguard-less 😀

[@CuriosityVaultChannel]

As I was writing the script and editing, I thought to myself "I hope no one ever spends money on shouting me a ride in a hot air balloon" I'd be too polite to say no, but I'd be terrified every second of it.

[@damienwilloughby]

Same 😥

[@jamesfloyd1864]

I agree!! It's a no for me!

[@newtoncooper4085]

I'd rather go up in a helicopter with a wobbly tale rotor in a blizzard.

[@jnolette1030]

A thousand feet up in a straw cabin with a giant flame! I'll pass

[@lmm8960]

😂👏🏻

[@Lbhacksaw]

Seriously

[@dianabeurman364]

REAL SMART HUH??

[@pupskin123]

Exactly. Straw basket, height, fire.... madness!!

[@SupportMensMentalHealth]

AND a nylon balloon....propane, wicker and rope. What could possibly go wrong cos this is not an accident and horror waiting to happen is it?

[@christopherwhitley744]

They suffered an agonizing death and experienced levels of pain and panic that's hard to comprehend.

[@lilybond6485]

@christopherwhitley744: Just like the poor innocent people that were stuck above the impact zone of the Twin Towers on 911. All they did was go to work that day. Many of them had a lot longer to contemplate their end: Jump or burn to death. Absolutely horrific. The videos keep randomly showing up in my KZbin feed.

[@MarkHutchinson-ry9sz]

It was a BS psyop with an empty building.

[@sammhyde7589]

Ok, and???

[@LeadMe2TheBliss]

Yeah, but they experienced something that NOT many people get to experience so that is sort of a special thing. I mean, just think of how many people die in car accidents every year compared to random hot air balloon accidents! They got to experience something that most people never will. Same goes for people who get eaten alive by gators and crocs, I mean I don't wish that on anyone but most humans will never experience getting eaten alive by a prehistoric gigantic reptile before they die. Honestly, I don't even wish that sort of death on a serial killer or the worst of the worst pedophiles.

[@LeadMe2TheBliss]

@@lilybond6485 The jumpers? Yeah, I wonder if any of the jumpers have been identified? That would be interesting to create a documentary or book about the lives of all of the Jumpers. That was such a tragic event and so sad, however the enemies got us good that day! If there plan was to cause death and mayhem then they certainly succeeded at their job. How heartless were those terrorists to fly a plane into a building? Why did the terrorists follow orders and do that? Were their families promised millions of dollars if they did? I know they hate America, but still it seems silly to end your own life in such a horrific way just because you hate a country. I don't understand their true motivations besides maybe their families were awarded lots of money if they sacrificed their own lives to kill thousands of people?

[@lornaginetteharrison7168]

I was badly burned in a house fire 3 years ago. I was asleep in bed and woke up literally on fire due to an electrical fault in my bedroom, and received third degree burns to 25% of my body. After being airlifted to hospital, I spent 4 months on a burn ward, having skin grafts, then had to wear pressure garments over my scars for the next 18 months. I can’t help but look at the world differently now, in the sense that I’m subconsciously always assessing the nearest exit in any location in case of a fire. With the benefit of experience, I certainly would NEVER willingly put myself into a situation where there’s absolutely zero chance of escape, like a hot air balloon. If the fire doesn’t kill you, the fall will…and yet that would be preferable to the fire. I realise that I’m extremely risk averse now, and am no doubt missing out on creating some amazing memories, but there’s nothing like flashbacks of your arms and legs being aflame to stop you from doing anything even slightly reckless!

[@beckyUK77]

I'm so sorry that happened to you x

[@CuriosityVaultChannel]

Sorry to hear that happened 😔

[@BenoitRAG3]

Didn't ask

[@ThatOneGuyWithTheEye]

Nobody cares keep you're fanciful stories to yourself

[@hamsterama]

Please excuse me for asking this, but did you have smoke detectors in your house? If you did, do you know the reason they didn't go off, or at least didn't go off in time? I have a smoke detector in the hallway right outside my bedroom. But after reading your story, I'm wondering if I should install one directly in my bedroom.

[@drosenberg80]

A friend of mine flies hot air balloons. He’s asked me to go up a few times. I asked where he lands? He said it’s totally up to wherever the wind takes us. The chase car will follow. Um no thanks. i can’t relinquish control over my life like that.

[@AllNatural7]

Woe😮

[@jeffmattson5766]

When I lived in the Santa Luz part of San Diego balloons would sometimes fly low over our townhome and land in the Mosque parking lot that was about 100 feet away.

[@flyguyry1]

You have almost no control over your life

[@kendallevans4079]

@@jeffmattson5766 Hmmm......heaven bound and landing in the parking lot of a Mosque?....There is either a joke or just irony there somewhere

[@246trixie]

3:17 “they were unaware that this was to be their final 40 mins alive” That gets you in the feels! I guess many people dont know that

[@kerrynight3271]

And yet they did know that it was possible they wouldn't survive. That's part of the thrill.

[@harrydoherty8299]

everyone will have a point in there lives when they have 40 minutes left to live.

[@managerof3monsters]

I can’t comprehend how anyone could want to ever go up on one of these.

[@MeaHeaR]

The Wombles Did

[@BenoitRAG3]

You can't comprehend. What a severe lack of imagination

[@thegreatdadino81]

Oh helllllll no! You’d have to kill me first.

[@fsabot19022]

Yeah no thanks

[@rc70ys]

Never Have and Never Will.

[@zariballard]

I remember seeing the live video of the accident and hearing one of the women scream "Sweet Jesus! We're gonna die! I don't want to die!!!" right before the basket broke loose. It was clear as a bell, blood-curdling and just terrible.

[@momchilandonov]

How could you possibly hear them like 300 feet away or something?

[@caseycat]

​@momchilandonov tbf the same thing happened in Mexico city a few years ago on video and you can clearly hear them screaming "help me" in Spanish way up in the air. So it's possible

[@joeblodontchno5309]

where was jesus tho?

[@caseycat]

@joeblodontchno5309 probably watching the whole thing eating popcorn idk

[@ISayNukem]

​@momchilandonov You can. I grew up in Arizona, very popular there. They used to fly over my yard when I was a kid and we would yell greetings to each other.

[@Thundernoob98]

KZbin is telling me everything I need to be scared of, first it’s cave diving, then hiking in the woods, now hot air balloons??

[@SnowyCountryChicken]

Add helicopters 🚁

[@SnowyCountryChicken]

Add helicopter 🚁, skydiving 🪂, submarine, flying through bad weather.

[@notme123]

And walling around in NYC with your tour map plastered across your face.

[@AllNatural7]

​@notme123 😂

[@russell-di8js]

Wing suits to me are the epitome of suicide chancing!?

[@stormy7192]

My sister took a ride in one and she hated the whole experience. And she isn't a scaredy cat of most things. The whole wicker basket and fabric balloon mixed with flames freaked her out.

[@dx1450]

It would me, too. I have a terrible fear of heights, and would definitely not enjoy a hot air balloon ride. I can fly in an aircraft no problem, because I'm enclosed inside. Standing in a small, open wicker basket? No thanks.

[@suzyq4982]

@@dx1450I’m scared of heights and haven’t been in a plane for 25 years .

[@karllieck9064]

​@@dx1450Unless the plane crashes...then what?

[@dx1450]

@@karllieck9064 Better chances on a fixed wing aircraft than in a hot air balloon.

[@Sashazur]

I flew in one once and I hated it too - but it was because I had to use the bathroom urgently but obviously had to hold it in until we landed.

[@stringologymchugh4245]

The whole concept of sitting in a basket attached to a balloon deserves to be in a Victorian novel, not real life!

[@michaelr.5676]

I did it once, scared the crap out of me

[@teknical100]

I can honestly say that I will never go swimming with sharks in a hot air balloon, in a cave whilst attempting to climb a mountain in a winged suit.

[@jenny2tone242]

😂

[@JFK-ir7yz]

While voting democrat.

[@eastbow6053]

@@JFK-ir7yz you do that after the deadly accident though

[@Kattycorner59]

That’s about it actually 🤣

[@jerome1lm]

The winged suit might safe you from the balloon fire.

[@cindy0717]

Went up in a hot air balloon once. Never again. Utterly terrifying and not the best time to realize how terrified you are of heights. It's just not worth it

[@willisjackson3080]

Years ago, my aunt bought a hot air balloon in Lubbock. She never went up in it. She always had a bad feeling about it.

[@WafflePancakes1314]

@@willisjackson3080then why did she buy it? Lmao

[@willisjackson3080]

I remember she inherited some money from her mother in law I think. She thought it would be fun but she turned out to be afraid of heights. She was very afraid of heights. My family tried to discourage her from going up. This was around 1984.

[@kendallevans4079]

@@willisjackson3080 Sorry, but this is almost like a bad joke. She buys a professional hot air balloon without ever having gone up in one?

[@willisjackson3080]

@@kendallevans4079 yeah, it had a giant star symbol on it. I think she had a warning inside not to ever go up.

[@darrenporter1850]

Shouldn't powerline cables be researched before they take off?

[@Any-Okra]

Yes

[@se-kmg355]

Nearly impossible to do. The direction of the wind decides the direction of travel, and it can vary. You also be flying many kilometers away, so the area to look for hazards is enormous. Better maps and resources would definitely help.

[@darrenporter1850]

@@se-kmg355 True. But there must be people monitoring wind direction and hazzards

[@TomDLuv777]

Probably a combination of incompetence and nature

[@acidreign0911]

​@@se-kmg355 there is a reason that minimum altitudes are marked on sectional charts. Anything below that is vfr and the pilots responsibility

[@Katclem47]

The fact that the weather could change on a dime and power lines exist, it's a wonder anyone willingly rides in one of those things.

[@sauce1232]

Driving a car is far more dangerous.

[@jimbobshambles]

I can’t imagine the sheer terror these poor people felt in their last few moments! Rip🙏

[@jaykid6595]

Seems like they tried praying with no results

[@stevetemple8826]

There's absolutely nothing on land that I want to see from the air. I can always find a picture on the internet.

[@MikeBarbarossa]

You can always get a drone with a camera if interested

[@c.c.6930]

Love your comment! There are genius comments on this page!

[@petergibson2318]

Wicker baskets!!! I would have thought that fire protection and fire-proofing would be the No.1 priority in designing those things.

[@LightSnowOvernight]

I remember this vividly. The press reported in detail what the passengers were screaming. Horrific

[@johndeaux3703]

I remember one of them screaming "DELETE MY SEARCH ENGINE HISTORY".

[@samsmoot1]

Tip of the day: Avoid immolation in the sky by not going up in the sky.

[@dx1450]

Going up in the sky is OK, just don't do it in a wicker basket with a nylon balloon and tanks containing a highly flammable substance, and open flame.

[@TherealLumpendoodle]

@@dx1450It’s not the going up that’s generally the problem, it’s the method you come down again that terrifies me.

[@dx1450]

@@TherealLumpendoodle It's not the takeoff, it's the landing that counts.

[@cjhoward409]

I saw a headline the other day that said “how to avoid not getting attacked by a shark”. Well, nothing in that article said, stay out of the ocean. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@c.c.6930]

I agree completely!

[@SunRise-ul7ko]

As a former helicopter pilot, flying low is always dangerous. Power lines viewed from above are mostly camsflaged by the varous shapes colours and shades of the ground.

[@jasonbender2459]

Sounds like bullshit. High voltage power lines have easements where all ground vegetation except grass is kept clear and as a result they stick out like a sore thumb. You literally can see them from space (satellites.)

[@wtfskilz]

Also hard for me to trust a pilot that old to see those power lines.

[@miroslavzima8856]

So you can choose - either watery grave while cave diving or fiery death in heights. No, thank you, I'm a proud landlubber!

[@trafficbabe]

Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, lightning😅

[@sblagg527]

well according to all these KZbin disaster videos you can also take a wrong turn hiking soo.....

[@miroslavzima8856]

@@sblagg527 Good point

[@jayallen4785]

My heart goes out to all of those related to this horrible incident. God bless. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@miketexas4549]

The entire concept of hot air ballooning is just a terrible idea. Also cave diving, playing Russian Roulette, etc.

[@rodkirkbride2230]

Add free climbing skyscrapers to that!

[@mikekennedy4572]

Hot air balloons are completely at the mercy of winds and breezes. They cannot be steered. Only the altitude can be controlled, and at that, response is slow. It looks like fun, but I would never go up in one.

[@SpaceEag11]

Oh wow that is insane. I didn't know they could not be steered. So they can really go anywhere and there's nothing you can do

[@wendigo53]

Yes. Going up is predictable. But then...

[@murraymclean9072]

So very tragic, those people suffered a nightmare scenario.

[@FoOtFoOt542]

30 years experienced hot air balloon pilot never heard of power line danger.

[@TheBeingReal]

Just shocking he didn’t know.

[@alanmcneill2407]

too old, slow, visibility problems, pilot.

[@JungleYT]

*Right...*

[@thedolphin5428]

And wasn't looking around?!?!?

[@thomasclarrett1918]

YOU HEARD NOW

[@drats1279]

The envelope is made of nylon (flammable), with a wicker basket (flammable) attached, two propane tanks (flammable), two fuel lines, one burner, electrical power lines, and one experienced careless pilot who failed to check his designated landing site for anything that could compromise the safety of his balloon and passengers, like electrical lines. What could go wrong?

[@matturner6890]

This is the dumbest possible thing to do with ones time IMO

[@davida1251]

And why get close to trees near the power lines anyway? The other two balloons landed nearby just fine

[@schizy]

The guy with his hands on the million BTU burner valve is called a pilot. Should be called the burner guy. I would NEVER get into a hot air balloon!

[@capndallas4918]

You'll have 2 at sime point

[@scouseaussie1638]

Bernie

[@joecummings1260]

As a private pilot of powered aircraft, I can tell you those things always made me nervous. They are given right-of-way over all other aircraft because the pilots really don't have that much control over them. They are going to go where the wind wants to take them. All they can do is climb or descend and hopefully there is some wind going the way they want to go. With modern weather briefings it can help you to know which way the wind is blowing at altitude, but that is far from a sure thing. Way too many times at small airports I've seen them just floating across the pattern. Thank God they are big and visible so you can avoid them.

[@budman8207]

Hot air balloons don’t “ head to a landing site” the pilots have zero control over which direction they travel, that is determined by the wind. This is why they only fly in the early morning and late evening when winds are usually the calmest.

[@grapeshot]

Yeah I just watched a video about that hot air balloon fire and crash that took place in Egypt in 2013. You're basically in the air with a lit oven over your head.

[@rc70ys]

And wind 💨

[@CoachERichardson]

Years ago, back in the Seventies, a young cousin of mine from Texas got her balloon pilot’s license and then took her parents up for a ride. She hit a power line and they all died.

[@SweetSassyBull]

So sad 😢

[@deborahmiller1214]

Yet another cheery story! You couldn't pay me enough to ride in one

[@ZelenskyTheMadClown]

Another totally useless and unnecessary 'sport'. What a waste.

[@alexojideagu]

You mean women's Basketball? Joking🤣

[@milacolman]

All sports are unnecessary

[@Irishgirl90586]

@@alexojideagu 😂😂 that was a good one !

[@alexojideagu]

@@Irishgirl90586 haha 😂

[@Amoogus]

All sports are useless and unnecessary. You just tolerate the rest because there's money behind it so you can buy merchandise and overpriced tickets and not feel bad about being a fat fuck chugging on a bud light. Just enjoy your own "sport" and fuck off.

[@siricaplan7777]

An almost identical accident on a Turkish holiday balloon flight killed my lovely young artist friend and her husband. The worst thing of all is that he posted a video of her minutes before they died - curled up and clearly terrified out of her wits in the balloon basket just before the take-off. She only went to please him. 😢 I will never, ever go on a hot air balloon flight.

[@billbright1755]

Power lines are just about everywhere and are a real danger to any aviation.

[@arlenbell4376]

If one wants to go up in a hot air balloon, go to the Albuquerque ballroom festival. Plenty of open places to land a very few power lines.

[@jefhow22]

Nope...I love the Terra firma....

[@gsau3000]

You read that like you were reading a weather bulletin.

[@mightyV444]

That's just how we speak here in NZ! 😁

[@TheHikingHoosier]

I feel safer skydiving than riding in a hot air balloon

[@2sohx]

I cannot dream up a worst way to pass.

[@HoodooMD]

I can! 😀

[@crazyleyland5106]

Why do people never say passed away or passed on nowadays? I thought passing was what you did if you successfully got through a test or exam.

[@sonorousbelchpipe1021]

It's a way to lessen the impact of the inevitable. Can't wait until someone shortens it to "PA" or just "puh"."They just PA'd" or "That guy just puh'd"

[@MrChopsticktech]

@@crazyleyland5106 I don't know where you are, but here in NE Pennsylvania where I live people use those all the time, and look at me weird when I say someone 'died'.

[@crazyleyland5106]

@@MrChopsticktech I'm British, and until fairly recently, we would have said that somebody "passed away" or " passed on." But recently, British people have started saying "passed ." We tend to imitate everything that the Americans do though, including turns of phrase.

[@tms372]

Lost a friend in almost the exact same way.

[@CuriosityVaultChannel]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[@LiquidToast12]

I would not be surprised if I went up thousands of feet in the air in a damn baloon and died. Those things are such a bad idea.

[@gwauk205]

How could you be surprised - dead people cannot express emotion!

[@miller6910]

I went up once, I was terrified.

[@JD0124]

Two things you will NEVER get me to go on: 1.) A hot air balloon 2.) A helicopter - oh, wait.... three things.... 3.) A blimp.

[@bryanlongshore6198]

A Ballon and a basket....with a fire under it, hundreds of feet in the air with plenty of oxygen.....what could go wrong ?????

[@colliswilliams8992]

There is just too much that can go wrong with a hot air balloon ride.

[@trafficbabe]

Meanwhile there are about 900 people in the morgue tonight from driving.

[@muirgirl]

This is horrible. I went to college with Natalie and she was kind and fun and I had no clue she had passed.

[@jilliansmaniotto2326]

she was my teammate on the swim team at UR and one of my best friends. the UR community, including alumni, came together in a really incredible way. the athletic department gave the swimmers/swimming alumni a ton of support, including setting us up in one of the suites at the football stadium as we waited for news. they also put on 2 different huge memorial services on campus - one right after it happened and before her funeral, and then again when people came back to campus in the fall. the support was wonderful.

[@milolll]

Was there any fire extinguisher?

[@lestupidunicorn]

i live across the world but still i remember this like it happened yesterday, absolutely horrific way to go, stuck with me for a lifetime

[@TheGtafreak77]

Over 30 years of "experience" yet 660 hours of flight time? Im pretty sure ive logged that on RuneScape in the last 4 months, let alone 30 whole fricken years

[@Highice007]

Saw a vid about how hot air ballons were used as observation platforms in the American Civil War. The ballons were tethered, permanently, by a long rope as to keep them in place. That in my opinion, is the only relitively, save way to go up in a ballon.

[@ylekiote99999]

I went in a hot air balloon with my wife years ago. I remember the pilot saying every hot air balloon landing is technically an emergency landing because they only have limited control. We ended up landing in small field in a residential area. I remember looking around afterwards and noticing all the power lines and thinking, "how did we miss hitting all of those." Anyway, it was a nice experience, but once is enough.

[@rickbrenner6079]

May the victims Rest in Peace👏🏼.

[@cool123-q3b]

I worked at the medical examiners office, and had to assist with their autopsies… seeing them is something I will never get out of my mind…

[@chrisfendt7488]

I work in the aircraft industry and we do all we can to reduce the possibility of failure hazards. I therefore cannot understand how these balloons are allowed to operate as to me it’s playing Russian roulette!

[@ZERODESTRUCTION]

I have never wanted to go on a balloon ride. The combination of flames, nylon, & a basket just seem like an accident waiting to happen!

[@HilltopperTA]

I remember this vividly... but never saw photos until today. Just a horrible tragedy

[@Tirani2]

I went up in a hot air balloon on Monday, and I'm kind of glad I hadn't seen this first. Having done hot air balloon flight, *I'm never doing one again.*

[@lancetruong3075]

Let's see ... a basket hundreds of ft in the air, propelled by propane, which is enveloped by nylon. Yeah ... I'll pass.

[@MickAngelhere]

I will never go up in a hot air balloon

[@SirWrecksy]

I'm no balloonologist but 660 hours experience doesn't sound like a hell of lot to me

[@scouseaussie1638]

I don’t want to go skydiving, caving, white water rafting or ballooning. I’ll stick to my stamp collection thanks.

[@Smuggler169]

lol! 👍

[@flexibledreamer7846]

Why didn’t that have a fire extinguisher on board?

[@jimmykray9583]

What????? What’s that gonna do?…

[@jilliansmaniotto2326]

natalie lewis was my college teammate and one of my closest friends. my sister was her emergency contact had to go to the scene when the accident was first reported and before we knew if there was any chance. my dad had to be the one to call her parents. I still vividly remember talking to her the day before when I saw her in the gym about how my grandfather had died the day prior. we talked about how it was easier to deal with his death because we knew it was coming. the fact this happened less than 24 hours after that conversation still rattles me. I was at a bar celebrating finishing my last exam of my first year of law school when I got the call from my sister about what happened. those hours and days and weeks that followed will be forever seared into my memory.

[@DarisT-qc1fw]

I've heard of this exact same scenario too many times. Never going to set foot on a hot air balloon or a helicopter, they're just flying death traps.

[@TheBeingReal]

It’s almost always a pilot issue. Same with small planes.

[@kenoneill8783]

Well at least make sure there's an ejection seat if you're going up in a helicopter

[@cwatson42785]

Fun fact: Cars are in fact much more deadly and you have a greater chance to die in your car. Are you going to stop driving as well?

[@eastbow6053]

@@cwatson42785 cars have more chances because you use them more often if we used hot air balloons or airplanes to move around instead of a car believe me the chances to die from those would sky rocket

[@UnCreativeBeliever]

@@cwatson42785the reason that is true is because there are far more people driving- of course there's going to be more driving accidents when there are more drivers

[@fernandogallardo3458]

Wear parachutes for emergencys

[@argosz8046]

Not much use a lot of the time because 1) the balloons aren't high enough to give enough height to jump out, and pull the cord in time to deploy the shute before you hit the ground (that's why you usually take a plane) 2) most people have never trained to use a shute and 3) if everything is on fire you'll be lucky to get a chance to even pull the cord.

[@MsFated]

I know it’s not very normal but I’m not getting on a hot air balloon without a parachute. Anytime I’m in the sky I’m taking a parachute 😂

[@TomDLuv777]

Maybe impractical, but would never consider doing anything like that without an impact suit and a parachute.

[@Deadfoot-Dan]

A beautiful 24 yr old with her whole life ahead of her, only to die from thermal injuries in an accident she had absolutely nothing to do with, proving how cruel and unfair life can be,

[@PC1974]

Let's spare a thought for poor Jenny Doyle, who was also burned to death in the incident.

[@Deadfoot-Dan]

@@PC1974 She actually died of blunt force trauma, along with the pilot, may they all RIP.

[@jilliansmaniotto2326]

natalie was one of my closest friends and a former college swimming teammate. my sister was actually her emergency contact for the event, so she was the one who got the call and had to go to the location while the search went on. my dad had to be the one to call natalie’s parents to break the news. she was one of the kindest, most loving people I ever knew, and her loss devastated our community. our old team still keeps her memory alive by using her heart signature on all of the team’s apparel, including their swim caps. she had a massive impact on so many people despite the short life she lived. ❤

[@PhillipSalyers-pd3tp]

@@PC1974 i think people are.

[@mistiinseattle]

I used to live where we could watch these and once got to see one land. Never in a million years would i go up in one. Far too dangerous. My heart goes out to these people killed in it

[@montanaminck2226]

Lived in Albuquerque, where they have the balloon festival every year, this was 1986, 87, worked at the HOLIDAY INN PYRAMID , meet owners and the pilots, was asked if I would like to go on a ride, I said HELL NO, TY

[@caravanlifenz]

Humans just weren't built to be up in the air or in the sea. We're a land mammal. I'm happiest walking and jogging, with my feet on the ground.

[@sheilaatif6906]

Exactly

[@incognito-yj4gu]

I won't fly on an airplane, much less a balloon.

[@psalm2forliberty577]

What kind of Airplane ? Reason I ask is: Commercial Aviation Passenger Jets in the USA have a near perfect low fatality / injury rate. GA or General Aviation small planes are MUCH more accident prone - generally safe but no guarantees. Many people conflate the two kinds.

[@QueenAvacado]

Planes are definitely safer though 😊

[@psalm2forliberty577]

@@QueenAvacado Indeed. Evidence: From 2009 to 2019 in USA Commercial Airline Flights there was not even 1 death & NO major injuries - a full DECADE of absolute Domestic Passenger safety. Astounding record !

[@bibsann861]

Me either

[@ttmaiden75]

Ive skydived 3 times and i would choose that over hot air ballooning or bunjie jumping ANY DAY.

[@davewhite4206]

The point here to take on board....don't go on a hot air balloon ride!!

[@se-kmg355]

As mentioned, this was the first fatal balloon accident in the states history. People die in traffic everyday, do you advice people to stay in side because of that as well?

[@debrakleid5752]

I’ve done it once and I’m good with not doing it again. I was scared at first imagining the basket giving way but I was fine after that. Horrible to hear about this

[@jayzahn7474]

Pilots have been known to mistake the lever controlling the lift with the one controlling the trap door.

[@ruthmccurdy8623]

Never get in a balloon piloted By someone w 666 hours experience???

[@JIMJAMSC]

Also there were 13 balloons that day.

[@tomcooper6108]

No, never get in a hot air balloon with Theists.

[@Bob-lz4bz]

@@tomcooper6108Weak.

[@TrentAdam]

Yipe

[@thedolphin5428]

Weird footage at 3:36... if that shot of the basket hitting those cables is actually real, not CGI, he must have been fkn blind not to see them. And, how come the balloon with basket moved AWAY from the cables after striking if the wind had blown them that way in the first place. Nah, fake footage of the ignition: * Different colour ballon, like the real shots and recovery skin, * clear blue sky, not grey like real shots.

[@Savagemode09]

there is actual footage of it bursting in flames amd exploding someone filmed saying its on fire. If you look upnthe crash itsbon google search

[@scottmorton1202]

I live in Laos. A few years ago a similar, but fortunately non-fatal mishap occurred with a tourist hot air balloon in Vang Vieng. Upon descending, the basket became hooked under power lines, which fortunately didn't short out and start a fire. The balloon pilot quickly turned up the gas and the basket un-snagged. Very lucky. Could have been much worse.

[@koalasez1200]

I will never understand why power companies don’t/won’t install big orange or yellow balls on lines when they are doing maintenance. That or some type of marker. Yes pilots are responsible and also ask passengers to keep an eye out for power lines. However, it is almost impossible to see grey or black lines against a landscape unless the sun is shining at just the right angle. And that angle is fleeting because the balloon is moving. If you don’t believe me, go up in one some time, or watch when you are in a plane coming in for a landing. If you don’t see a pair of poles, you can’t tell where those lines are.

[@necrocleric13]

I used to want to go up in a hot air balloon. Now, I don't like the idea of being in something that is at the mercy of the wind.

[@derekstocker6661]

Absolute tragedy, the fact that what was to have been a great treat and a wonderful experience turned into a definite nightmare come true. RIP Folks.

[@rickbrenner6079]

No hot air balloon flying for me, ever. I like my feet planted firmly on the ground where I know an accidental slip and fall is 99% of the time not going to kill me or make me catch fire and burn alive.

[@keithprice1950]

Humans sure do love to take unnecessary risks. As someone who did it plenty of times when I was younger I am very grateful to still be alive.

[@Masud_S_Hoghughi]

You go the way the wind blows, like a sail boat ⛵

[@crispylemon24]

I was at the fair grounds spectating the show when it happened and remember seeing the balloon on fire from a distance, the whole event went silent and once the basket dethatched all you could hear is the radios from first responders. This is the first in depth video I've seen on the event since it happened.

[@CuriosityVaultChannel]

Thanks for sharing a first hand experience 😊

[@aprilsmith3683]

My husband and I went up in one that had a larger...rectangular shaped basket...it easily held eight people... It was a winter morning flight... The hosts greeted us with hot beverages...rusks and biscuits... We were given a briefing before we boarded which included safety and emergency landing protocols... An exhilirating lift off... "Toy Town" spread out below us... Crisp...clear air... Besides the "whooshing" it was quiet and calm...serene...we were all spellbound... Our landing was on the back of a stationary vehicle and just as we settled in a gust of wind buffeted our basket and it leaned over at a 45' angle and slid off the vehicle... We were a little startled...but our pilot had prepared us well and kept telling us what to do in a calm voice... No harm done... All clambered out... They repositioned the basket on the back of the vehicle and we were all driven back in a separate vehicle... I would fly with him again anytime.... A champagne breakfast was included after the flight... Such a marvellous experience... 🇿🇦

[@artemis1style]

WE DONT BELONG IN THE AIR. WE ARENT BIRDS.

[@shimmer8289]

That activity has too many risks to be a legal activity. Why people insist in sitting in a basket propelled by fire, and a balloon is ñot rational.

[@kristinstrickland1038]

Yes. One day they'll be banned and people will look back and say, "What were they thinking?"

[@rodstarcke5423]

If the powerline was hidden by trees, why didn’t he lift the balloon enough to clear the trees?

[@MeaHeaR]

Great channel Bro 👍😄

[@CuriosityVaultChannel]

Thanks for the visit 😎

[@alexc8209]

In 2024 you cannot smoke freely in Portugal, you cannot drive your car faster than 99mph in the UK, you cannot walk on the deck of the local ferry in France, you cannot use automatic fire at a gun range in the USA, you cannot cross the road except at the designated crossing in Singapore and now in Spain you cannot watch porn without permission and monitoring from the government (lol) BUT in all those countries you can go a mile up in a wicker bascket with compressed gas and a square mile of flammable material over your head. I guess we should all enjoy the thrill while we still can.

[@sadikmeah4057]

Excuse my ignorance i understand how a balloon goes up and down but how is lateral control achieved?

[@jamesgibson3582]

Its carried laterally along by air currents. You can go higher or lower to get different currents bit basically you go where the wind takes you.

[@sadikmeah4057]

That doesn't sound good 😮 Then how do you perform a controlled landing?

[@jamesgibson3582]

You have some predictability based on prevailing air currents that typically flow at your location (take off early in the morning for calm air and light winds, and pretty much always land in a large field south of the city for example). You can control the steeepness of the descent is influenced by the pilot who can either add hot air, or vent hot air from the top.

[@davecampbell5176]

Really he just didnt see the power lines until it was to late. Thats one the problems with a balloon you can not decide exactly where you will land.

[@cubfan69kmz85]

Never ever have I or will I go up in a hot air balloon. Holy Cow! Those poor people in that basket. Seems so senseless.

[@ytzpilot]

I gave one of the passengers in the Carterton, New Zealand her last haircut of her life days before that accident, it was a wedding anniversary weekend getaway for her and her husband and she was so excited, she was getting her hair done for the weekend, such a tragedy

[@2760ade]

😢Life's a complete shit sometimes, isn't it! So sad!

[@BMarie774]

Never getting into a hot air balloon, ever. Period.