A tragic hot air balloon accident in the northern Dutch village of De Hoeve claimed one life and left five people injured on Wednesday evening. The balloon, a Cameron Z-750 registered PH-GPH, was carrying 34 people, including the pilot and co-pilot, when it made a hard landing in a field.
Medevac helicopters Lifeliner 1 (PH-TTR) and 4 (PH-DOC) and fourteen ambulances were at the site to assist. According to the Veiligheidsregio Fryslân, the injured passengers were taken to hospital. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
The balloon had taken off from Joure at around 20:00 local time. Monique Hoogeslag of the Royal Netherlands Aeronautical Association (KNVvL) said that while the descent rate appeared normal, a sudden wind gust dramatically increased the balloon’s forward speed just before touchdown. Eyewitnesses reported the envelope and basket bounced several times across the field.
Dutch media, including Omrop Fryslân, report that authorities are investigating the exact cause of the accident.