Two dead after hot air balloon crashes into ground with pilot arrested

Two tourists have died after a hot air balloon mishap that saw the vehicle crash into the ground, with the pilot subsequently arrested.

Three others were injured in the crash of the hot air balloon carrying 28 tourists in Cappadocia, Turkey, where two Spanish tourists died after the tragic accident.

A pilot has since been arrested following the crash, which took place on October 18 at 8.50am after an "unexpected" increase in wind strength and a seemingly botched emergency landing.

READ MORE: Panicked Brits could be faced with turkey shortage this Christmas due to food strike

Two women are said to have died aboard the hot air balloon when the basket hit the ground following the emergency landing near Kavak.

Turkish media officials named the pair as Maria Cristina Baltrons, 62, and Dolors Masana, 64.

Three other people on board the hot air balloon were injured in the emergency landing, with paramedics responding to the scene and treating them following the crash.

Those three people were named as Maria Mercedes Riera Enrich, 55, Josefa Franco Gil, 68, and Lourdes Betran Sole, 62.

  • Rottweiler battles sex-mad 6ft kangaroo for 45mins and survives it trying to drown him

Gil was taken to Special Versa Hospital and is said to be in intensive care following the hot air balloon accident, which saw pilot Moustafa Mohamed Amin Khelidy arrested.

Neveshir province governor, Inci Sezer Becelhe said: "During the landing of the balloon, which was carrying 28 passengers and two crew members, two Spanish nationals lost their lives, while three Spanish citizens were injured.

"The treatment of those injured is continuing in hospitals in our city and they are not life-threatening."

Within said statement, Becelhe stated that the accident had been caused by an unexpected increase in winds, initial assessments have shown.

An investigation into the crash has been launched to clarify the events leading up to the tragic crash, while pilot Khelidy has been arrested and transferred to court on a currently unknown charge, Sabah reported.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.

READ NEXT:

  • Zombie mushroom that kills insects could help fight cancer, bombshell study finds
  • Lucky lottery punter nabs £218m jackpot after buying ticket in middle of hurricane
  • Mia Khalifa 'covets' life by British seaside as latest UK glam snaps send fans wild
  • First pic of Brit dead on Italian beach after 'medical episode' in 'rough and cold' sea
  • Mum who scalded her son, 5, to death and kept him in cat cage avoids death penalty

Source: Read Full Article