Image: Jim Ross/Invision/Associated Press
A hot air balloon at the Mid-Atlantic Balloon Festival in Doswell, Virginia, caught fire and crashed shortly before 8PM ET, according to Festival officials.
The fiery crash was first reported on social media and picked up by NBC News just before 8PM ET.
DEVELOPING: Hot air balloon catches fire and crashes at Virginia festival http://ift.tt/1lah1So
- NBC News (@NBCNews) May 10, 2014
The Virginia State police were notified of the crash around 8 PM by local sheriffs. Police set up a staging area and have been actively searching for wreckage and survivors. At the time of their 10 PM press conference, though, no wreckage had been found.
Based on eyewitness accounts, one hot air balloon did catch fire and crash, said the Festival official. The balloon had a pilot and at least two passengers, all of which are currently unaccounted for. No names were released.
State police: We will continue through the night until we find the hot-air balloon wreckage
- CBS 6 WTVR Richmond (@CBS6) May 10, 2014
The Federal Aviation Administration is on the scene, as this is considered an air crash.
Reporters asked about the possibility of weather playing a role, but the official said the skies were overcast, but not stormy.
RADAR PIC shows no lightning with the storms in the distance from Doswell at 7:56 pm: http://t.co/mustlzACur #balloonfire
- CBS 6 WTVR Richmond (@CBS6) May 10, 2014
According to Central Virginia CBS local news station WTVR, Channel 6, the balloon may have drifted into nearby power lines in Doswell, Virginia, before catching fire. The balloon was apparently taking part in the Mid-Atlantic Balloon Festival at Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, Virginia. The festival is a three-day event in Doswell that includes food, live music and hot air balloon rides. According to WTVR all the full balloon flights were sold out, but tickets were still available for tethered flights.
Festival officials have, according to WTVR, cancelled the remainder of the festival.
In this map, you can see Doswell, Virginia, where witnesses believe they saw the balloon go down. It's roughly 15 miles north of Richmond, Virginia.
Posted by Unknown on Friday, May 9, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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