A hot air balloon made an emergency landing on apartment rooftops in Melbourne's southern suburb of Elwood on Wednesday, startling passengers but causing no injuries. The balloon, on its maiden flight, ended up draped over two rooftops with its basket landing in a carpark.
Passenger Jayde Magookin, 34, filmed the incident as the balloon bounced over roofs and treetops. He described the experience as terrifying, but said he and the other 12 passengers could now laugh about it. His wife Aelia, 30, was seen in the video crouching nervously as the balloon bumped into a rooftop and plowed through trees.
Pilot Nick Brau, director of Liberty Balloon Flights, said the balloon was brand new but would not fly properly. He managed to avoid light poles and overhead cables, though some buildings were damaged. Brau, who has flown hot air balloons for 27 years, said this was his first crash and he was shaken by the accident.
Passengers praised Brau's calmness during the landing. Magookin noted the balloon took a different route from the rest of the fleet, which landed safely. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate the incident.
Despite the scare, Magookin said he would fly again, adding that the accident gave him more confidence to overcome his fear of heights. He had been recovering from a recent heart attack when the flight was originally booked two weeks prior.
