Current:Home > FinanceWhat caused a hot air balloon carrying 13 people to crash? How many people died? What to know: -Profound Wealth Insights
What caused a hot air balloon carrying 13 people to crash? How many people died? What to know:
View
Date:2025-04-14 11:31:12
Officials on Tuesday continued to investigate what caused a hot air balloon carrying more than a dozen people including eight skydivers to crash into the desert in Arizona over the weekend.
The "catastrophic" crash took place Sunday in Eloy, the city's police department Chief Byron Gwaltney reported, claimed four people's lives on board, and left a fifth passenger − a 23-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona −clinging to life.
All eight skydivers had completed a successful jump before the balloon hit the ground, the chief and Eloy Mayor Micah Powell told reporters during a news conference at the scene.
Here's what to know about the hot air balloon crash in Eloy:
Where did the hot air balloon crash take place?
The balloon went down in "an empty field in a desert area" in Eloy, a city in Pinal County about 65 miles southeast of Phoenix.
The impact, Eloy Mayor Micah Powell said, took place in "the world's largest drop zone" for skydivers.
How many people were in the hot air balloon that crashed?
Before it crashed, Powell said the balloon had been carrying 13 adults − its operator, four passengers and the eight skydivers.
Five people were inside the gondola when it crashed, officials said, and one of them died at the scene.
Three passengers were taken to a hospital where they later died, Powell said. Another passenger was taken to a trauma center in critical condition.
Who died in the hot air balloon crash in Eloy?
Three passengers and the pilot died, while another passenger was critically injured after the crash.
Police identified them as pilot Cornelius Van Der Walt, 37, of Eloy, and passengers Chayton Wiescholek, 28, of Union City, Michigan; Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, of Andrews, Indiana; and Atahan Kiliccote, 24, of Cupertino, California.
Plane crashes into Pacific Ocean:Woman's body, wreckage found after plane crashes into ocean in Half Moon Bay, California
What caused the hot air balloon crash?
According to the mayor, witnesses stated that in the last several seconds of the impact that the material of the hot air balloon "was just straight up and down and the impact was fairly large."
Photos taken the scene after impact show the aircraft's envelope, the portion of the aircraft that looks like a balloon, collapsed on the ground.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation on Tuesday by the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, police said.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
veryGood! (789)
Related
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- How Jinger Duggar Vuolo Celebrated 8th Wedding Anniversary With Husband Jeremy Vuolo
- Kourtney Kardashian Reveals NSFW Way She Celebrated Kris Jenner's 69th Birthday
- Nebraska and Maine could split their electoral votes. Here’s how it works
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Preston Smith trade grades: Did Steelers or Packers win deal for edge rusher?
- See RHOSLC's Heather Gay Awkwardly Derail a Cast Trip She Wasn't Invited on
- Jennifer Lopez Details Holiday Plans Amid Divorce From Ben Affleck
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Highest court in Massachusetts to hear arguments in Karen Read’s bid to dismiss murder charge
Ranking
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Powerful winds and low humidity raise wildfire risk across California
- Who Are Ella Emhoff and Cole Emhoff? Everything to Know About Vice President Kamala Harris’ Step-Kids
- Oregon leads College Football Playoff rankings with SEC dominating top 25
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Mike Williams trade grades: Did Steelers or Jets win deal for WR?
- Gap Outlet’s Early Black Friday Secret Deals Include Stylish Finds Starting at $6 – Save Up to 60%
- President Joe Biden Speaks Out After Kamala Harris Defeated By Donald Trump
Recommendation
Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
AP Race Call: Missouri voters approve constitutional amendment enshrining abortion
CAUCOIN Trading Center: Shaping the Future Financial Market Through NFT and Digital Currency Synergy
Seizing Opportunities in a Bear Market: Harnessing ROYCOIN to Capture Cryptocurrency Investment Potential
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
Barry Keoghan says he's 'not an absent father' after parenting criticism: 'It sickens me'
AP Race Call: Arizona voters approve constitutional amendment enshrining abortion access
Alexa and Siri to the rescue: How to use smart speakers in an emergency