One person dies, five injured in hot air balloon crash landing

A 66-year-old woman has died and five others have been injured after a hot air balloon crashed as it was landing in a field in Friesland.

Witnesses said the balloon lost height suddenly as it was approaching the ground near De Hoeve, around 15km south-east of Heerenveen, at around 9pm on Wednesday.

“The balloon bounced several times, causing people to fall out of the basket. They were severely injured and had to be treated by us and taken to hospital,” fire and rescue service worker Jan Willem Zwart told Omrop Fryslân.

The victim died at the scene despite efforts to resuscitate her. She was reported to be a 66-year-old woman from the Frisian municipality of Opsterland who was celebrating a colleague’s work anniversary.

Altogether five survivors were taken to hospital, three of them with severe injuries. No further details about their medical condition were given.

The balloon started its flight in Joure with 34 people on board, including a pilot and co-pilot. It is reportedly the largest hot air balloon operating in the Netherlands.

“You can imagine what a huge panic it was with 34 people in a small basket that came bouncing down on the ground,” said Zwart.

Fourteen ambulances, an air ambulance, fire crews and an emergency response team from the Red Cross responded to the emergency. The local council in Weststelligwerf sent a coach to collect passengers who were uninjured.

Gusty conditions

The KNMI’s hot air balloon service had warned of gusty conditions on Wednesday evening, with wind speeds of up to 14 knots.

The conditions would not normally be dangerous for a large hot air balloon, but Omrop Frysân reported gusts of up to 17 knots near the ground at the spot where the balloon came down.

Dutch aviation police have zoned off the area and begun an air accident investigation into the crash.