Insane footage shows hot air balloon crashing into power lines before landing in lake
A hot air balloon crashed into live power lines before landing in a lake during a balloon festival in Howell, Michigan, on Sunday.
Footage of the crash shows the balloon suddenly start to lose elevation and head straight for a set of power lines. The pilot turned the balloon's flame on full blast, which heats the air and should cause the balloon to rise, but it was too late.
The basket and balloon make contact with the power lines, and an enormous electric sound engulfs the surrounding area as the balloon and basket catch fire, and the craft takes off back into the air.
"Everybody get back," a man can be heard yelling.
Eventually, the balloon descends again, and lands in the middle of the lake.
"Does someone need to go save him?" the man filming asks. "He's up. He's out of the basket," he says a moment later.
USA Today reports that nobody was injured in the incident. The lone pilot operating the aircraft was brought to shore with the help of two fisherman.
The accident brought down power to approximately 40 customers, according to DTE Energy Spokesman Stephen Tai, but it has since been restored.
The Michigan Challenge Balloonfest director tells local ABC affiliate WXYZ that the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the accident.
