Officials said that on Tuesday, after a sightseeing tour of volcanic rock formations in central Turkey, a hot air balloon made a harsh landing, killing two Spanish visitors and injuring three others.
The incident happened in the Nevsehir district of Turkey’s Cappadocia area, where hot air balloons soar over picturesque gorges and volcanic cones.
The disaster was brought on by a “sudden rise in wind,” according to a statement from the Nevsehir governor’s office. According to the report, emergency personnel arrived at the site of the collision right away.
On board the balloon were two crew members and 28 visitors. According to the statement, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
The Cappadocia area, located about 300 kilometers south of the country’s capital, Ankara, is renowned for its churches cut into mountainside cliffs, subterranean settlements, and “fairy chimney” rock formations.
Each year, the area draws millions of visitors.
In recent years, there have been a number of tragic balloon mishaps.
In 2013, a collision between two hot air balloons resulted in the deaths of three Brazilian tourists and the injuries of 22 others.
In 2017, when a balloon crashed onto the ground in strong winds, a Danish tourist perished.
When their balloon collided with a power line two months later, a French ambassador was killed and several other people were hurt.
More recently, in 2021, a hot air balloon in Albuquerque, New Mexico, collided with electricity wires, resulting in the deaths of five persons.