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Hot Air Balloon Hits Electrical Wires, Goes Up in Flames

What: Early Morning Balloons hot air balloon
Where: New Zealand
When: Jan7 2012
Who: 11 fatalities
Why: Five couples from around Wellington were aboard a hot air balloon 500 feet high in New Zealand when it struck a power line and ignited. The balloon had been preparing to land. Everyone aboard was trapped; two jumped from the basket, but they also died. First the basket burned, then the canopy.

Passengers had tickets for a 45 minute flight.

Witnesses on the ground watched in horror as the accident happened. Among those who died were pilot Lance Robert Hopping, Howard and Diana Cox, Alexis Still and Chrisjan Jordaan. A mother and daughter were also aboard.

Two of the bodies were taken to Wellington Hospital.

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