On Saturday morning, a hot air balloon caught fire and crashed in central Texas. The balloon was reported to have been carrying 16 passengers, and there were no survivors onboard. According to a Federal Aviation Administration statement, the balloon caught fire sometime around 8 a.m. local time and crashed near Lockhart, Texas, which is about 30 miles south of Austin. Local Fox 7 journalist Marcus Officer captured this photo from the field where the balloon crashed.
Caldwell County says there are no survivors in hot air balloon incident in Lockhart. pic.twitter.com/tAmuAIUxy7
— Marcus Officer (@MarcusOfficer) July 30, 2016
Officials say the balloon caught fire when it crashed into a pasture, with first responders reporting the balloon basket was engulfed in flames. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said investigators are digging into what exactly happened to the balloon, and he is asking asking for patience:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as the Lockhart community. The investigation into the cause of this tragic accident will continue, and I ask all of Texas to join us in praying for those lost.”
Department of Public Safety has confirmed the details of the accident, and investigators are prepping for an afternoon press conference.
An amateur — and somewhat graphic — video claims to have caught the aftermath of the crash.