Oye! World News

Pilot of crashed air-balloon was due to marry his long-term partner this Easter

Category: Australia Published on Saturday, 07 January 2012 12:21 Written by Cyndie White

Eleven people climbing in a hot-air balloon early on Saturday morning to glide over hills of New Zealand’s North Island died in a tragic accident.

The hot-air balloon was going to land in a hay field but instead it hit electricity cables. Loud screams were heard when sparks flew into the basket. Two of the passengers jumped off, but died. The balloon quickly caught fire. Flames engulfed the entire vessel and it plummeted to the ground.

“It was just a long streak of flames, probably about 10 metres long,” said David McKinlay, who watched as the balloon fall. “It was just a sheer flame as it hit the ground. It came down like a bloody rocket and then there was a big bang. The impact must have been terrible.”

Lt Gen Sir Jerry Mateparae, the Governor-General, grieved the death of ten passengers and an experienced pilot saying it was “with a profound sense of both shock and disbelief” that he learned of the disaster.

“A tragedy on this scale means many people, both in Carterton and elsewhere in New Zealand, will be grieving for those who died,” he said.

The deceased pilot, Lance Hopping, had over 1,000 hours of commercial ballooning experience. Hopping was due to marry Nina Kelynack, his long-term partner, this Easter.

“We are coping but we are a bit of a zombie house at the moment,” said Mr Hopping’s father Robert.

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