Clare Wolstenholme and Nicholas Wright suffered burns from electrical shock during the incident in Mexico on March 16, according to local media reports
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A British couple have been injured after their hot air balloon hit power cables during an emergency landing in Mexico, according to local media reports
- The pilot was reportedly arrested following the crash, which is believed to have caused damage to nearby household appliances
- Authorities are investigating the incident involving the balloon, which was operated by the company Happy Puerto
A couple have been left injured after their hot air balloon crashed into power cables in Mexico, according to reports.
On Monday, March 16, the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) confirmed in a translated release that an incident involving a hot air balloon had taken place earlier in the day at 8:40 a.m. local time in the area of Teotihuacan.
“An incident was reported due to an impact on electrical power cables by a hot air balloon,” the release read, per the Government of Mexico website. “Two people were traveling on the aircraft with registration XA-OZY, belonging to the company Happy Puerto, and suffered burns from electrical shock.”
Officials added, “They were transferred to Mexico City for treatment at a private hospital. AFAC initiates administrative investigation of the event.”
Credit: Getty
The individuals were identified as Clare Wolstenholme, 43, and Nicholas Wright, 49, of London, according to local outlets El Universal and Excelsior. Per El Universal, they were a married couple.
PEOPLE has reached out to Happy Puerto and the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) for further comment.
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Pilot Santiago Torres, who was allegedly flying the balloon at the time, was trying to make an emergency landing on a soccer field in Cruz de la Misión when the crash occurred, La Jornada reported.
However, the balloon brushed electrical power lines resulting in the pilot losing control, per El Universal.
The hot air balloon operator was arrested following the incident, while the basket and balloon have been removed from the scene, according to Excelsior.
It’s also believed that damage was caused to nearby household appliances due to the collision with power cables, the outlet reported, citing preliminary reports.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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