Jagoda Gancarek, a 28-year-old Polish hot-air balloon pilot and national champion, died Monday after being thrown from a balloon basket during a crash in Zielona Góra in western Poland.
The balloon collided with a building during flight. Gancarek fell from the basket onto a rooftop following the impact.
Emergency responders attempted resuscitation, but she could not be saved. Two other women who were aboard the balloon escaped with minor injuries and were later taken to hospital.
Gancarek was a member of the Lubusz Land Aeroclub and was widely regarded as an experienced balloon pilot and instructor.
In 2025, she won the 11th Women’s Balloon Championship held in Na??czów. Colleagues described her as passionate about aviation and active in training other pilots. She also participated in aerial firefighting observation flights.
Authorities confirmed that a formal investigation has been opened.
The probe will involve Poland’s aviation accident authority, the State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation, which will examine the circumstances of the collision and fall.
Balloon accidents are relatively rare but can occur during low-altitude manoeuvres, landings, or obstacle strikes, especially in urban areas where power lines or buildings present hazards.
Source: TVP World
This post was published on 9 March 2026 17:29
Ryanair responded to a passenger’s complaint about its windowless seat 11A with a characteristic social-media…
VINCI Airports has launched the redevelopment of Terminal 2 at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, with opening…
Joshua Wander, co-founder and chief executive of 777 Partners, the investment firm that financed failed…
Condor has launched daily flights between Berlin Brandenburg and Abu Dhabi, operated in codeshare with…
Delta Air Lines will introduce daily seasonal flights between Boston and Reykjavík Keflavík on 12…
Saab has presented the first GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for the…