There was probably good luck in the accident, it could have been much more dramatic: During the landing process in Eastern Styria, the pilot of a hot air balloon probably overlooked a power line. As a result, five steel cables of the balloon are completely cut! The 65-year-old managed to land the balloon safely and neither he nor his passenger were injured. 250 households were temporarily without power.
On Thursday around 9.25 am, the pilot – a 65-year-old from the Liezen district – wanted to land the balloon in the Ilztal (Weiz district) after a ride. He had one passenger on board, a 58-year-old from Tulln (Lower Austria).
Reason: low sun
The experienced pilot probably did not see a 20 kV power line, probably because of the low sun. The collision ensued, tearing the power line and also completely cutting five of the balloon’s steel cables.
250 households without electricity for a few hours
Nevertheless, the man from Liezen managed to land the balloon safely: both persons were unharmed. As a result of the accident, seven power distribution stations in the Preßguts area were shut down for about an hour and a half, leaving some 250 households temporarily without electricity.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
