UPDATE: Balloon popped, was not shot
MAGALIESSIG - Douglasdale police have said that no shots were fired at the Montecasino balloon which crashed earlier today.
Despite some reports that the Montecasino balloon was “shot out of the air”, Douglasdale police have confirmed that no guns were involved in the incident.
Warrant Officer Balan Muthan, head of communications for the Douglasdale police, said an operator was conducting a routine operation when a gust of wind blew the balloon off course.
The operator lost control of the balloon and the balloon collapsed onto the side of one of the Montecasino towers. At this point, the balloon popped and the basket detached from the balloon.
The sound of the gunshot eyewitnesses reported hearing was due to the helium escaping from a tear in the balloon. The deflated balloon floated off and eventually landed in Magaliessig.
Emer-G-med said the operator, who was in the basket of the hot air balloon when it crashed, was treated for back pain on the scene before he was taken to hospital.
Read our previous stories on this issue here:
VIDEO: Montecasino balloon falls out of the sky – social media reacts
BREAKING: Montecasino balloon falls out of the sky
