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Hot air balloon incident injures several people

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July 31st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Indianola, Iowa) – An incident during the National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Saturday, resulted in several people being injured. According to reports, a hot-air balloon involved in the event struck as power line. The incident happened at around 5-a.m. Officials with the Balloon Classic said the pilot and three others were in the basket at the time. They were each treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

In a lead-up to the Classic that took place last Monday, one balloon pilot made a landing in a Des Moines backyard. The balloon landed in the 1700 block of Jefferson Avenue. The pilot told KCCI the landing was “Tight but successful.” No one was injured. 22 balloons filled the air that day, others experienced off-course landings, including in a doctor’s office parking lot and a golf course.

The pilot who made a controlled landing in the backyard, blamed a shift in winds for his incident.