Hot-air balloon burns near Philadelphia, kills 1

[September 08, 2008]  CHESTER SPRINGS, Pa. (AP) -- A hot-air balloon made an unscheduled landing and burst into flames in suburban Philadelphia Sunday evening, killing its pilot and injuring seven passengers.

The balloon carrying eight people was making an hourlong flight, but descended early into a field about two miles from the liftoff site, said Deputy Chief Chuck Fields of the Kimberton Fire Co.

"It was an unscheduled landing, but it came down making a normal landing," Fields said. "It did not fall from the sky on fire."

When the basket landed shortly before 6:40 p.m., a fuel hose dislodged. The venting propane was ignited by the flame used to heat the air for flight and set fire to the balloon and basket, Fields said.

The pilot was unable to get out of the basket and died at the scene, West Vincent Township Police Chief Michael Swininger said.

Passengers jumped from the basket but were burned, some seriously, Fields said. They were assisted by nearby residents until fire department and ambulance workers arrived.

Two victims were flown to Temple University Hospital and were being treated in the burn unit, said a spokeswoman who declined to comment on their condition.

Three others were taken to Chester Crozier Medical Center, where hospital officials said one was in guarded condition and two were stable. Two passengers were treated at an area and released.

Authorities do not know why the balloon landed before the end of the scheduled flight, Fields said. The crash will be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration, he said.

Air Ventures Hot Air Balloon Flights, operator of the balloon, could not be reached for comment Sunday night.

[Associated Press; By PATRICK WALTERS]

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