Hot-air balloon collapses radio tower in Albuquerque during festival

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A hot-air balloon struck and collapsed a radio tower Friday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, throughout the town’s well-known pageant — the second time in 20 years {that a} balloon has come into contact with that tower.

There have been no studies of accidents, mentioned Kevin Carhart, a spokesperson for the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Workplace. The balloon, which had three individuals on board, landed safely in a subject after it struck the tower.

The tower transmits radio sign for KKOB-AM.

The Aerostar Worldwide Inc. S-57A balloon took off from a park as a part of the 52nd annual Albuquerque Worldwide Balloon Fiesta, mentioned the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating.

It wasn’t clear how tall the tower was. Information footage of the aftermath confirmed no different buildings within the path of the collapsed tower.

In 2004, a balloon formed just like the face of Smokey Bear obtained wrapped round a radio tower in the course of the pageant, forcing the pilot and two passengers to climb many of the manner down the construction. A pageant spokesperson confirmed to The Related Press that’s the similar tower {that a} balloon struck Friday.

A balloon ran into an influence line earlier this week in Albuquerque on the pageant’s third day, leaving almost 13,000 clients with out energy for nearly an hour.

The fiesta is likely one of the world’s most photographed occasions, drawing a whole bunch of hundreds of spectators every fall to New Mexico to lookup at greater than 100 balloons in brilliant colours and particular shapes.