Yesterday evening, about 8pm, a hot air balloon that was in trouble made an emergency landing in sand dunes between Perran Sands Holiday Park and the Golf Club in Perranporth. The balloon’s aviators contacted Newquay, Cornwall airport, who sent out the emergency services to track the balloon’s descent. The balloon, containing four people, landed without anybody being hurt.
There are a number of hot air balloon flights in Perranporth and Newquay areas to enjoy, making for a great way to view the landscape.
Hot air balloon accidents are very rare – and with Cornwall’s abundance of beaches and sand dunes there’s no city to worry about if there’s an unexpected landing to be made, you can concentrate on the beautiful scenery and taking aerial photos from the safety of the basket.
The balloon’s pilot, John Armstrong, has since denied that there was a problem – and said he’d just made an advisory call to Newquay Airport. He landed the balloon exactly where he had intended to, making a regular landing at one of his normal sites.
The pilot lives in Newquay.
The official report said:
Perran Sands, Perranporth at 07/07/2013 20:09
“… contacted Cornwall Fire and Rescue service stating that they had been in contact with a hot air balloon which was spinning uncontrollably and was making an emergency landing in the Crantock area of Newquay. One appliance with five firefighters from Newquay and an appliance with six from Perranporth were sent from the opposite direction, a landrover from Perranporth with three crews was also mobilised to give better off road access to the balloon on landing. Once mobile to scene fire crews could see the balloon descending and tracked it to the sand dunes between Perran Sands Holiday Park and the Golf Club. The balloon landed and the four persons on board fortunately were unharmed. “
remwbay hot air balloon poster
Image © Balloon
