A hot air balloon pilot is getting high marks for landing safely alongside a busy Vermont highway after the plane came to a halt mid-air Wednesday night, according to officials and a report.
The balloon, which was carrying a handful of passengers, touched down in the median of Interstate-91 as it was getting dark around 8 p.m., local authorities said, according to the Valley News.
The pilot, identified as Chris Ritland, who runs Quechee Balloon Rides, had no other options for a safe landing besides the interstate, the Hartford, Vermont Fire Department said.
“(The pilot) did a good job of landing the balloon safely in the median and avoiding any problems,” the department said.
Before the balloon hit the ground, motorists reported seeing it about 30 feet above the road, the department said.
The balloon landed on Interstate 91 just as the sun was almost setting. Street Smart Driving School
The pilot shared that his plane stalled mid-flight, forcing him to make a quick and drastic emergency landing.Street Smart Driving School
The company told the newspaper that Ritland and four passengers had a “beautiful balloon flight” that ended “with a common landing but in an unusual and unplanned place.”
When the winds began to blow in a different direction than expected at the start of the flight, Ritland was unable to land at the planned location, the company said.
“The pilot in command of the plane made a precautionary decision as sunset approached to land safely rather than take unnecessary risks,” Quechee Balloon Rides said, noting that workers contacted local officials about the new landing target. .
Attentive motorists were able to spot the balloon and stop it as it fell from the sky onto the road, potentially averting a major catastrophe.Street Smart Driving School
The balloon remained inflated until first responders were able to close the northbound and southbound lanes. No injuries were reported.
A passenger who spoke anonymously to Valley News described how the terrifying scenario played out on air.
“We were going down pretty fast and burning and burning (propane) fuel and we weren’t going anywhere,” the passenger said. “The wind just wasn’t there.”
Ritland remained calm and “everything he was supposed to do, he did,” the passenger told the outlet.
“Chris did amazing at the time,” the passenger said.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn