5 couples, pilot killed in hot air balloon blast
Eleven people have been killed in New Zealand’s worst air accident for more than three decades. The victims died when a hot air balloon burst into flames and crashed in Carterton, some 80 kilometres north of Wellington on the country’s North Island.
It is a region well-known for hosting ballooning events and the tragedy has many people everyone hard.
Ron Mark, Mayor of Carterton said: “the ballooning fraternity is a very respected fraternity in Carterton. Ballooning is very popular here. We host a national event every year and we know we will know all the personnel involved.”
Witnesses say the balloon appeared to have clipped power lines before coming down fast in flames.
