There are 19 people confirmed dead after a Hot Air Balloon carrying tourist caught fire while flying over Egypt’s ancient city of Luxor and crashed into a sugarcane field, on Tuesday, February 26, 2013.
It was piloted by an Egyptian Pilot and there are 20 tourists on board for the early morning sky-ballooning experience enjoying panoramic inflight views of the Nile River and the ancient temples of Karnak and Hatshepsut. Tourists include French, Belgian, Hungarian and Japanese nationals and nine people coming from Hong Kong.
According to witnesses, the balloon was in the process of landing when it caught fire. After a while, the gas canister exploded and it plunged 300 meters high into the sugarcane field. Passengers were jumping from the balloon’s basket. 19 of them are confirmed dead, and two including the pilot survived the accident.
Gov. Izzat Saad suspended Hot Ballooning while authorities are still investigating the incident.
Incoming Visitors
- egypt air balloon
- egypt hot atr balloon