And, fortunately, hot air balloon accidents are rare. Going back to 1964, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has only recorded a total of 775 such accidents in the United States.

Falling out of a hot air balloon is an extremely rare event, with fewer than a few dozen documented cases globally over the last several decades. Statistically, hot air balloons are one of the safest forms of flight in 2026, with a fatality rate of approximately 1 per 1.5 million flight miles. Most incidents involving ejections occur during high-wind "hard landings" rather than at cruising altitude. For example, historical NTSB data (2000–2011) showed that of 78 crashes, only four fatalities involved the ejection of occupants from the basket. In 2026, safety is further enhanced by higher basket walls (gondolas) and mandatory safety briefings that instruct passengers to stay low and hold on during descent. While "basket tipping" can occur if the balloon is dragged by wind, the design of modern gondolas makes it nearly impossible to simply "fall out" while the balloon is in stable flight unless a passenger intentionally climbs over the side or fails to follow safety protocols.