Huge balloon on 1,500-mile journey is seen coming toward ground. Then crews step in
A huge balloon on a 1,500-mile journey was seen coming toward the ground — then Georgia crews stepped in.
The balloon — similar to a hot air balloon — reportedly had flown “nonstop” after taking off in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was traveling over Johnson County, Georgia, when someone saw it going down in a grove of trees on Tuesday, Oct. 10, according to deputies.
“Deputy Jose Soto deployed his drone and we were able to locate the balloon/carriage within minutes,” the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post, adding that residents and other first responders helped find two people on the ground.
Photos shared on Facebook show parts of the balloon surrounded by trees. The balloon’s crew members landed it in the area while participating in a race and weren’t injured, officials said.
“We assisted them back to the roadway,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “Another part of the race team was coming to assist to put them back in the race.”
Though deputies didn’t share additional details about the race, the balloon came down during the popular Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
In response to McClatchy News’ requests for comment, the Balloon Fiesta said several gas-powered balloons left New Mexico, racing toward North Carolina. During the journey, one of the balloons had a “routine” landing in Johnson County, Georgia.
“As with any aircraft, these balloons cannot fly indefinitely; they run out of ‘fuel’ (gas and ballast) or need to land due to weather conditions, etc,” a Balloon Fiesta spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email. “Local authorities often are present where our balloons land, and we appreciate their help in guiding the balloons’ ground support teams to the landing site and in other areas as needed.”
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, based roughly 140 miles southeast of Atlanta, didn’t immediately share additional details with McClatchy News on Oct. 11.
This story was originally published October 12, 2023 at 8:37 AM with the headline "Huge balloon on 1,500-mile journey is seen coming toward ground. Then crews step in."
