Hot air balloon crashes in Turkey: One killed, 19 injured

A hot air balloon crash in central Turkey on Sunday resulted in the death of the pilot and injuries to 19 Indonesian tourists, local officials confirmed.

The balloon was forced into a hard landing near the village of Gozlukuyu in Aksaray province after a sudden wind shift.

According to Aksaray Governor Mehmet Ali Kumbuzoglu, the pilot fell out of the basket during the landing and became entangled in a rope, causing him to get trapped beneath the basket and die at the scene.

The injured tourists were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Video footage showed the deflated balloon lying on its side as emergency teams attended to the victims.

Hot air ballooning is a favored activity in central Turkey, especially around Cappadocia, known for its unique “fairy chimneys” rock formations and ancient cliff-carved churches — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

State media reported that another hot air balloon taking off from the same Ilhara Valley location made a hard landing earlier Sunday, injuring 12 Indian tourists slightly.

In 2022, two Spanish tourists died following a hard landing of a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, highlighting ongoing safety concerns.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crashes.