ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) — A hot air balloon hit the radio tower and collapsed Friday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during the city’s popular festival — the second time in 20 years that a balloon has come into contact with that tower.
Kevin Carhart, spokesman for the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, said there were no reports of injuries. The balloon, which had three people on board, landed safely in a field after colliding with the tower.
The tower transmits the radio signal for KKOB-AM.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the matter, said the Aerostar International Inc. S-57A lifted off from a park as part of the 52nd Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Festival.
It was not clear how high the tower was. News footage of the aftermath of the accident showed that there were no other structures in the path of the collapsed tower.
In 2004, a balloon shaped like Smokey Bear’s face was wrapped around a radio tower during the festival, forcing the pilot and two passengers to climb most of the way down the structure. A festival spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press that this is the same tower that was struck by a balloon on Friday.
A balloon hit a power line earlier this week in Albuquerque on the festival’s third day, knocking out power to nearly 13,000 customers for about an hour.
The festival is one of the most photographed events in the world, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators each fall to New Mexico to gaze at more than 100 balloons in bright colors and special shapes.
