UPDATE: 5:10 p.m.
The Transportation Safety Board says it will investigate after a hot air balloon taking part in the winter carnival in Vernon, B.C., crashed on Friday.
Police say a wind draft may have caused the balloon to strike a rock face, then collide with power lines near the highway south of Armstrong.
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A hot air balloon came in contact with a power line Friday morning.
A pilot, who flies commercially in Kelowna, hit a line near Armstrong while flying in the North Okanagan Hot Air Balloon Festival (a Vernon Winter Carnival event).
B次元官网网址淗e hit a power pole and the envelope (balloon) is destroyed but everyone is fine,B次元官网网址� said Deb White, Carnival chairperson.
B次元官网网址淛ust a fluke accident.B次元官网网址�
In fact, the pilot isnB次元官网网址檛 deterred from flying again.
B次元官网网址淗e does have another (balloon) and heB次元官网网址檚 just trying to get the log book so he can go back up again,B次元官网网址� said White.
ItB次元官网网址檚 unknown what caused the crash, which took place near the Tolko mill around 10 a.m.
Vernon RCMP responded to reports of the collision but said that initial stages of the investigation show that the balloon may have encountered an updraft from wind that forced the balloon to strike a rock face of a hill adjacent to the highway, causing it to then collide with the power lines.
B次元官网网址淥fficers have made contact with the pilot and the six passengers on board the board at the time of the incident,B次元官网网址� said Cst. Kelly Brett. B次元官网网址淣o injuries have been reported to the RCMP, and no obvious signs of damage to the power lines. However, BC Hydro has been notified.B次元官网网址�
The investigation has now been turned over to the Transportation Safety Board.
Evan Erickson 27, was not involved in the incident but was one of the pilots flying over Vernon Friday morning.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very rare but power lines are the number one balloon danger and theyB次元官网网址檙e harder to see in winter,B次元官网网址� said Erickson, who has been flying for three years.
B次元官网网址淵ou can be very precise with a balloon if the winds arenB次元官网网址檛 doing crazy things.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 the first time White can remember a crash in the 28-year history of the festival.
In fact, this yearB次元官网网址檚 festival got off to a great start for the pilots and crew as they raced to see how far they could fly Friday morning, leaving an empty lot across from Home Depot and making it to Armstrong.
B次元官网网址淭hey said on the positive side, speaking with one of the runnersB次元官网网址his is one of the best runs theyB次元官网网址檝e ever had,B次元官网网址� said White.
See:
The North Okanagan Hot Air Balloon Festival is in its 28th year.
The balloons are scheduled for a second flight Friday, two on Saturday and one more on Sunday - all weather dependent.
newstips@vernonmorningstar.com
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