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Hot air balloons

Deadly hot air balloon crash in Texas raises safety questions

Jefferson Graham
USA TODAY
Hot air balloons fly during the 20th European Balloon Festival in Barcelona, on July 7, 2016.

How safe is flying in a hot air ballon? Many Americans are asking that question in the wake of a hot air balloon crash south of Austin, Texas, on Saturday that killed 16 people.

Hot air balloon deaths are extremely rare. Between 1964 and 2013, there were only 67 fatalities out of 760 hot air balloon accidents, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

16 dead in hot air balloon crash in Texas

Dean Carlton, president of the Balloon Federation of America, said accidents typically occur due to a variety of factors, including wind, weather and crashing into power lines. Hot air ballooning is “safe, fun entertainment,” and situations like Saturday's crash in Texas “are very rare," he said.

"A balloon is a vehicle like cars and trucks. But when you have a car accident, it doesn’t make the front page,” he added.

The Federal Aviation Administration regulates hot air balloons the same way as any other aircraft. Hot air balloon pilots must be certified and the balloons must have an air worthiness certificate. The FAA inspects the balloons used for commercial ventures after 100 hours of flight time or at least once a year.

The FAA has expressed concern that hot air balloon operators should be more heavily regulated. Safety investigators in 2014 recommended that the FAA tighten up their oversight on hot air balloon operators, but the FAA didn't act of the recommendations, according to the Associated Press.

A look at the deadliest hot air balloon accidents

Hot air balloons use propane gas to heat the air that rises into the balloon and lifts it into the skies. It's a popular sport enjoyed in much of the country — even Alaska and Hawaii. It's typically found more frequently in areas with wide open spaces. The cost of a balloon starts around $30,000, but bigger ones can go up to $100,000, Carlton said.

The hot air balloon capital of the USA is Albuquerque, N.M., Carlton said, because it has the largest collection of pilots and a unique micro climate that’s dry most of the year, making it easy to fly in the morning. The annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta begins in October.

The deadliest hot air balloon accident in recent years occurred in 2014 in Caroline County, Va., when a balloon struck a power line and burst into flames, killing three people.

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