STA, 11 May 2022 - A hot air balloon accident took place near the town of Beltinci in north-eastern Slovenia on Tuesday as the gondola of the balloon hit power lines, cutting local electricity supply and causing an estimated EUR 11,000 in damage. No one was injured in the accident.
The accident happened in the later afternoon on Tuesday, as the hot air balloon hit power lines due to strong wind. There were three persons in the gondola, all of them unharmed, the Murska Sobota Police Department said.
One of the passengers reportedly had to jump out of the gondola, as instructed by the pilot, so that the balloon could be lifted again, gain some distance from the power lines and land safely.
The power lines were snapped during the collision, with part of the towns of Beltinci and Gančani being temporarily left without power.
The Murska Sobota Police Department said that the police would charge the pilot of the hot air balloon for endangering public traffic. While there were no injuries, material damage has been estimated at EUR 11,000.
