A tragic incident unfolded on Monday, March 18, when a man plummeted to his death from a Hot-Air ballon while it traversed suburban Melbourne, Australia. The ballon had departed from the northern suburbs of Melbourne in the early hours of the morning, remaining airborne for approximately 30 minutes before the unfortunate event occured. The man’s body was discovered in a residential area, prompting Victoria state police to close off the area to traffic.
The balloon safely landed several miles away from the location where the man’s body was discovered. Authorities confirmed they would compile a report for the coroner and emphasized that the death was not considered suspicious. Additionally, they are conducting interviews with the pilot, other passengers, and witnesses.
Both the National Commercial Hot-Air Ballooning industry and the Australian Ballooning Federation extended their condolences to the man’s loved ones.
“Hot-air ballon baskets are designed with safety in mind, specifically to prevent passengers from falling out accidentally or from any accidental exit,” Passengers and pilot are understandably traumatized by this tragedy and the operator is arranging psychological support and counseling for all affected.