A hot-air balloon struck and collapsed a radio tower in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during the city’s famous festival. This incident marks the second time in 20 years that a balloon has come into contact with that specific tower. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in the accident, as confirmed by Kevin Carhart, a spokesperson for the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. The balloon, carrying three people, was able to land safely in a field after hitting the tower, which transmits radio signals for KKOB-AM.
The balloon involved in the collision was an Aerostar International Inc. S-57A, which took off from a park as part of the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently conducting an investigation into the incident. The exact height of the tower remains unclear, but news footage of the aftermath revealed no other structures were affected by the collapse.
Interestingly, this particular tower had a previous encounter with a hot-air balloon back in 2004 when a balloon shaped like the face of Smokey Bear got entangled with the structure during the festival. On that occasion, the pilot and two passengers had to climb down most of the tower. A balloon also collided with a power line earlier in the week, leaving around 13,000 customers without electricity for nearly an hour.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is renowned as one of the world’s most photographed events, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators annually. The festival showcases over 100 balloons in various bright colors and special shapes, making it a popular attraction each fall in New Mexico.