Hot air balloons can be a little tricky. They don’t have propellers or wings or any other standard way of steering them like other modes of air transportation. So, sometimes, if the wind and circumstances are just right, they will seem to have a mind of their own.
Case in point: A hot air balloon slammed into a Sacramento-area casino building Monday afternoon. Why? Because, according to a poorly-written statement provided to KCRA News from Sky River Casino near Elk Grove, “Due to unexpectd [sic] heavy winds, the pilot chose to launch into free flight in accordance with safety protocols.”
The Elk Grove Police Department, on the other hand, said the balloon made an unplanned launch due to the unexpectedly strong winds.
Luckily for everyone, both the hot air balloon and the pilot landed safely after the big bump. Also, luckily for everyone, KCRA News’ LiveCopter 3 was there to film the whole thing.
A celebration turned quickly into chaos
The hot air balloon was supposed to be at Sky River Casino to celebrate a groundbreaking for a new hotel. However, as the video shows, while someone was still inside, the balloon’s basket struck the side of the building, at one point making a 90-degree angle. The balloon’s skirt and wind guard were torn, and one suspension wire appeared to have broken due to the crash.
The crash reportedly occurred at 12:10 p.m. After slamming into the casino, the hot air balloon made an attempt to land before giving up and returning to the skies. Below the hectic scene, casino employees and bystanders can be seen running and ducking for cover. At 12:29 p.m., it landed in a nearby field after crossing over Highway 99.
“We were watching it live as he was struggling,” an Elk Grove resident told CBS News. “It’s almost like when a balloon goes up from a child’s birthday party, and seeing how it deteriorates, this was just a giant-sized balloon.”
The Elk Grove Police Department reported that the balloon hit a power line before landing. They notified the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board about the incident.