Reports of hot air balloon crash and injuries were fake news

 

 

Chiang Mai news reported that a story about a hot air balloon crashing and causing damage and injuries in Doi Saket yesterday morning were not true. 

 

This was confirmed by aviation officials and a private company that operates balloon trips for tourists in the area.

 

The company said that the fake news was damaging for tourism and had no basis in reality.

 

 

An aviation official said that the balloon came down and landed normally in a field - it was near some houses and might have caused home owners to believe there had been an accident. 

 

Manageress of  Balloon Adventure Thailand Co Ltd Sasilaporn Withee said the company had been operating for 15 years, always informed the authorities about its activities and had a fine record. 

 

 

On this occasion they had arranged for the balloon to come down in a field and everything was normal with no injuries or damage to property. 

 

The balloon has permission to ascend to a height of 350 meters and tourists are always taken up with an experienced pilot. 

 

She complained about the damage to Chiang Mai tourism and the good name of her operation.

 

Source: Sanook

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-12-04

 

Typical of so much news nowadays... Hot Air.

I think “Fake News” may be a bit strong.

I used to be a hot air balloon pilot. There were several occasions when I had to touch down in somewhat “restricted” areas to meet up with the chase vehicle to exchange empty gas containers for full ones and, occasionally, swap passengers.

 

Loads of times there were people rushing out to see if the balloon had crashed. They were always good-hearted and concerned people wanting to help if there had been an accident.

A few times after I had got back in the air, I could see blue lights screaming to the site. A quick radio call to the chase vehicle to tell them to stay put and meet them would assure everyone that all was good.

 

For a couple years, we lived on an estate in New Jersey (USA).  Many wealthy people and large properties around the neighborhood (Malcolm Forbes, John DeLorean, Mike Tyson ... Trump now has a golf course/house nearby).  One day I was working in the yard (caretaker) and a balloon came over very low.  Startled me and the owner's dogs.  I always wondered if it might have been Forbes, as his place was only a mile or two away.  He was a balloon enthusiast and had some wild custom balloons.  I think he ballooned around Thailand once.

 

They did have a balloon festival a bit further west.  Only time I've seen maybe 2 dozen of them up at the same time.

22 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

For a couple years, we lived on an estate in New Jersey (USA).  Many wealthy people and large properties around the neighborhood (Malcolm Forbes, John DeLorean, Mike Tyson ... Trump now has a golf course/house nearby).  One day I was working in the yard (caretaker) and a balloon came over very low.  Startled me and the owner's dogs.  I always wondered if it might have been Forbes, as his place was only a mile or two away.  He was a balloon enthusiast and had some wild custom balloons.  I think he ballooned around Thailand once.

 

They did have a balloon festival a bit further west.  Only time I've seen maybe 2 dozen of them up at the same time.

A couple of points on that one.

 

First off, when I was flying, it was ingrained into all Pilots Under Training (PUTS) to do everything you possibly could to avoid startling people or animals.

 

I mostly flew around the west of Berkshire – which was quite rural, and there were loads of wealthy horsey type stables. Pedigree race horses could be startled quite easily, so we would need to familiarise ourselves with the area and fly considerately. Not only that, if they injured themselves in panic when I flew over, I could be sued!

 

But even going over villages and towns, we’d fly at an altitude where people could see us coming, and not be surprised. Everyone seems to stop and look when a balloon comes over!

 

But a Balloon "Festival" with a couple of dozen balloons?? You want to go to Metz in France!!

 

Maybe we could have a balloon forum as the things I could tell you would be quite entertaining!!