A hot air balloon pilot earned high marks for landing safely on the side of a busy Vermont highway after the plane stalled mid-flight Wednesday night, according to officials and reports.
The balloon, which was carrying a handful of passengers, landed in the median of Interstate-91 as it got dark around 8 p.m., local authorities said, according to the Valley News.
The quick-thinking pilot, identified as Chris Ritland of Quechee Balloon Rides, had no other safe landing option other than the interstate, Hartford, Vermont Fire Department reported.
“(The pilot) did a good job of landing the balloon safely in the median and avoiding any problems,” the department said.
Before the hot air balloon reached the ground, motorists reported seeing it about 30 feet above the highway, the department said.
The balloon landed on Interstate 91 as the sun was about to set. Bestari Street Driving School
The pilot shared that his plane stalled mid-flight, forcing him to make a quick and drastic emergency landing. Bestari Street Driving School
The company told the newspaper that Ritland and four passengers had a “beautiful balloon flight” that ended “with a normal landing but in an unusual and unplanned location.”
When the wind started blowing in a different direction than expected at the start of the flight, Ritland was unable to land where expected, the company reportedly said.
“The pilot of the plane made a precautionary decision as the sun was about to land safely rather than take an unnecessary risk,” Quechee Balloon Rides said, noting that workers contacted local officials about the new landing target.
Careful drivers were able to spot the balloon and stop as it fell from the sky toward the highway, potentially preventing a major catastrophe. Street Smart Driving School
The balloon remained inflated until first responders could close the northbound and southbound lanes. No one was reported injured.
A passenger who spoke anonymously to Valley News described how the terrifying scenario played out in the air.
“We were going down fast and burning and burning (propane) fuel and going nowhere,” the passenger said. “The wind is not there.”
Ritland remained calm and “everything you’re supposed to do, he did,” the passenger told the outlet.
“Chris is doing amazing at the moment,” the passenger said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
