Hot air balloon crash in Carterton, New Zealand on Saturday. Photo Associated Press

Wellington – A hot air balloon burst into flames and crashed to the ground in New Zealand on Saturday, killing all 11 people on board, after apparently hitting a power line.

The balloon came down in calm weather near Carterton, a small town north of the capital Wellington and a popular area for ballooning, in New Zealand’s worst aviation disaster in more than 30 years.

“It appears a fire has ignited on board, causing the hot air balloon to crash in farmland. Sadly, the pilot and 10 passengers onboard have not survived,” Wellington district police commander Mike Rusbatch said.

One witness, David McKinlay, told reporters he looked up to see one side of the basket on fire and “all of a sudden there was just 10 metres of flames”.

“It was like a rocket coming down; it was just unbelievable,” he said.

McKinlay, who alerted the emergency services, said the balloon was about 150 metres in the air when it suddenly plummeted to the ground.

Another witness told Fairfax News he was waving to the passengers as the balloon passed overhead and appeared to hit a power cable.

“The people were enjoying a nice ride and by the looks of it they clipped a power wire,” he said.

“Then I heard the screams and looked out the window and heard it coming down. They sounded like screams of joy but they weren’t. It wasn’t coming from a great deal of height.

“I ran down the road to see if I could help but by that stage it was too late. It was just burned out. By the time the emergency services got there, there wasn’t much of a chance.”

Investigation

Two of the passengers are believed to have leaped from the burning basket and were found in a nearby paddock.

Jacqui O’Connor, a nurse holidaying in the area, said she raced to the scene, dodging fallen power lines to reach the victims.

“There was live wire all over the people and the paddock,” she said.

It was New Zealand’s worst aviation disaster since 1979 when an Air New Zealand jet crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica killing 257 people.

Police say they were alerted to the crash just before 07:30. Ballooning companies in Carterton, about 150km north of Wellington, recommend early morning flights.

Reporters at the scene said the crash site has been cordoned off and only emergency workers and the families of those on board the balloon were being allowed through.

The names and nationalities of those on board had yet to be released but Carterton Mayor Ron Mark said he believed they were a mix of locals and tourists.

The balloon was believed to have been owned by Ballooning New Zealand director Lance Hopping, who has more than 1 000 hours of commercial ballooning experience.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee said an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the crash and draw up recommendations to prevent a similar accident in future.

“We are deeply sorry to learn of this tragic accident and our hearts go out to those who are now mourning the loss of life,” Brownlee said.

“Experts will be looking to learn any lessons from the investigations which have begun today which can help improve safety for others in the future.”

Hot air ballooning is tightly governed in New Zealand with operators requiring special certification.

- AFP

For Hot Air Ballooning Safety in South Africa , also view:

Hot Air Ballooning experts clarify concerns about safety

“One person was struck by lightning and another died as a result of flooding,” said departmental spokesperson Lennox Mabaso.

He said a freak thunderstorm accompanied by strong winds had torn through the towns of uMsinga and uMvoti.

Search and rescue teams were continuing to look for the three missing people on Sunday.

The area has been devastated by flooding and damage to homes and other infrastructure.

[Sapa]

Two people miraculously escaped from serious injuries when the light aircraft they were traveling in crash landed in an open field between Parys and Kroonstad this morning.

Paramedics from ER24 that arrived on the scene found the wreckage in the field with a man believed to be in his 40′s and his 13 year old girl. Upon assessment paramedics found that the man only sustained minor injuries to his leg. He later declined to go to hospital. The 13 year old girl was treated on the scene for possible back injuries and transported to Mediclinic Potchefstroom for further medical management.

The cause for the crash is not yet known and will be investigated.

Werner Vermaak,ER24

[Centurion 14 December 2011 18:50]

Two men have been killed and another 3 have sustained slight injuries after a small plane allegedly crash landed on the R55 outside of the raceway in Centurion.

The plane is believed to have been from the training school nearby and the reason for the alleged need to perform and emergency landing will need to be investigated by the appropriate authorities. When paramedics arrived, the small aircraft was in pieces and the plane had also crashed into a hatchback that had been traveling on the road at the time. Sadly both of the occupants of the plane were deceased upon arrival of paramedics as they had already succumbed to the extensive injuries that they had sustained. There was nothing further that could be done for them.

The three men who were in the hatchback suffered only minor injuries and after thorough assessment by paramedics, they decided that they would leave the scene with private transport and would see further medical attention at a later stage if it was necessary.

The Centurion bound lane will remain closed while investigations are underway, and the Pretoria bound carriageway is contested with traffic as motorists look at the wreckage.

Vanessa Jackson, ER24

A 23 year old female sustained some injuries this afternoon during a skydiving incident in Bloemfontein.

ER24 paramedics received a call out to an airfield in Bansvlei. The female skydiver was allegedly overcome by a gust of wind upon landing on the ground and lost control of her parachute. The female then landed on the ground face first.

Paramedics treated the female at the scene for multiple scrapes and cuts. She also sustained a suspected back and neck injury. She was later immobilised to a special board before being transported to Mediclinic Bloemfontein for further medical care.

Andre Visser, ER24

This morning several news and weather broadcasts warned people of a heat wave over the northern regions of South Africa. It is said that some areas may even reach as high as 40 degrees Celsius.

Important facts to consider are how to prevent heat exhaustion and how to deal with heat related emergencies. It is especially during extreme heat conditions that paramedics are called out to various incidents relating to excessive heat or exhaustion.

ER24 would like to remind the public of the following:

• Stay well hydrated and stay out of the direct sun during midday.
• Ensure that you wear appropriate clothing and sun cream when outside.
• Should you partake in outdoor activities, make sure that you have adequate resting sessions and keep hydrated at all times.
• Do not consume excessive amounts of alcohol.
• Ensure that there is appropriate adult supervision when children are swimming.
• Babies and the elderly are more likely to suffer from heatstroke due to inadequate thermal regulation systems. Ensure that they are monitored closely during this time.
• It is also important that you do not leave your children or animals in a vehicle even with the windows open.

It is often that people focus their attention on other humans but we should also keep our pets in mind. Ensure that they have a cool place to rest and enough clean water.

During severe heat stroke or exhaustion you may notice any of the following signs or symptoms:

• Severe headache
• Weakness or disorientation
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Severe thirst

It is important that a person presenting with these signs and symptoms be closely monitored as it could result in the patient losing consciousness or having seizures which could result in death.

Persisting signs and symptoms of any of the above may need immediate medical attention. Rather seek help immediately. You can contact ER24’s National Emergency Contact Centre on 084 124 should you require emergency medical assistance or advice.

Werner Vermaak, ER24

“The investigation team conducted an analysis of the engine and it was concluded that there were no indications of any pre-impact mechanical anomalies or dysfunction to any of the components observed,” the report stated.

“The investigation has also confirmed that there was no pre- or post-impact fire.”

The Pilatus PC-12 plane was travelling from Queenstown to Plettenberg Bay on February 8 when it crashed 1km offshore near the Robberg Nature Reserve.

The crash claimed the life of Italtile CEO Gianpaolo Ravazzotti. Also killed were pilot Bronwyn Parsons, co-pilot Alison van Staden and passengers Gia Celori of Italtile, Marilize Compion of Italtile, Sava Di Bella of Prima Bella Bathroom Accessories, Simon Hirschberg of Grainwave, Jody Jansen van Rensburg of CTM Alberton, Aletsia Krause of Italtile.

Their bodies, as well as debris were salvaged from the sea.

The plane disappeared off the radar at 16:30 and no distress call was received.

The report concluded there were no eyewitnesses, probably due to poor weather like dense fog and drizzle.

An investigation of salvaged debris indicated the left elevator on the right horizontal stabiliser of the tail plane was found to have failed and was unaccounted for.

- SAPA

A man believed to be in his early 40s was paragliding off the cliff faces between Waterval Boven and Goedewil in Nelspruit is in a serious condition after he somehow got into difficulty and crashed into ground this afternoon.

Emergency personnel arrived on the scene and found the man still connected to the glider and in a lot of pain. Paramedics assessed the patient and found that he had suffered possible neck, back and pelvis injuries and even possible internal injuries. The patient needed Advanced Life Support intervention and specialised equipment. While he was being stabilised the air mercy medicopter was called in to airlift the patient to Mediclinic Nelspruit where trauma staff were waiting to take over the medical care of the patient.

It is unclear how the man got into difficulty but the accident will have to be investigated by the local authorities to confirm what really happen.

Derrick Banks, ER24

Two Tornado’s have hit South-Africa this Sunday and has left hundreds of individuals homeless.

The ER24 dispatch centre in Johannesburg received a call out yesterday afternoon shortly after 16:00 of a tornado that hit Ficksburg in the Freestate. Multiple ambulances were deployed into the area. Widespread devastation could be seen across the area as houses were left in ruin.

Various Emergency Medical Services searched the disaster area on foot for injured individuals. 1 boy, aged 9, was found with multiple injuries. He was later declared dead at the scene. A total of 42 individuals received medical attention for various injuries ranging from multiple scrapes and bruises to suspected back and neck injuries.

Then shortly past 19:00 a second tornado hit. The tornado struck the informal settlement of Duduza in the Eastrand of Johannesburg. ER24 deployed rescue personnel to the scene to assist with the search of possible casualties. Initial reports confirmed that a total of 105 individuals were treated at the scene for injuries. Fortunately no one sustained any major injuries.

Paramedics at both incidents described the areas affected by the tornados like a scenes out of Hollywood disaster movie. Only when the sun rises over the areas this morning will the true devastation be evident.

Andre Visser, ER24

“It was a freak accident and we don’t know what caused it,” spokesperson Colonel Petrus Motlhabane said in a statement.

He said four of the parachutists were seriously injured and were airlifted to 1 Military Hospital where their conditions were stable.

Ten others suffered minor injuries and were also taken to hospital.

All were released from hospital later in the day.

Motlhabane said the injured were members of 44 Parachute Battalion.

He said a board of inquiry would be convened.

The airshow was being held to showcase preparations for the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition being held in September next year.

- SAPA