• The balloon apparently hit a power line, an FAA spokeswoman says

  • The Mid-Atlantic Balloon Festival is called off due to the incident

  • Images show the balloon well above the ground with its basket on fire

  • Authorities haven't yet found the balloon or the 3 thought to be on board




(CNN) -- A hot air balloon burst into flames and crashed in Virginia on Friday night, prompting a search for the wreckage and the three people believed to be on board.


The incident happened over Doswell, 25 miles north of Richmond, said Kathleen Bergen, spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration .


Preliminary information indicates the balloon struck a power line and then caught fire, according to Bergen.


The balloon had taken off with two others that landed safely, said Corinne Geller, spokeswoman for the state police. But when the third balloon was on approach to land, it burst into flames.


Witnesses reported hearing two explosions, and the gondola separated from the balloon, which soared upward, Geller said.


It crashed somewhere northeast of Meadow Event Park, Geller said. Images from the scene show one balloon well above the ground, with its basket in flames.


Hours later, authorities had not located it. Nor did they know the condition of the one pilot and two passengers believed aboard, according to Geller.


"We've been actively searching," she said. "At this point, we have found no wreckage." Rescuers are searching two sites.


There was no rain at the time, though severe storms rolling through could complicate the search, Geller said.


The incident came one day before the scheduled start of the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Balloon Festival, which is set to run through the weekend. On its website, the event's organizers invite people to "get up close and personal with 20 hot air balloon teams from across the country."


The event has been canceled in light of Friday's incident, according to a post on the festival's Facebook page.


CNN's Chandler Friedman and Aaron Cooper contributed to this report.



Translate

News best america

Blog Archive

- Copyright © Hot news -exclusive interviews- Powered by News - Designed by breaking national and world news -