Luckily, no one was hurt. 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.

Yes, it is statistically very rare for a hot air balloon to crash, especially in a way that results in serious injury or fatality. According to NTSB and global aviation data for 2026, hot air ballooning remains one of the safest forms of flight, with significantly fewer accidents per passenger-mile than private planes or even driving a car. Most "accidents" that do occur are actually hard landings due to sudden wind changes, which might cause the basket to tip or drag but rarely result in structural failure. Fatal crashes are almost always linked to "extraordinary" factors, such as contact with power lines or attempting to fly in severe, unpredicted weather. Commercial balloon pilots undergo rigorous training and must follow strict FAA (or local equivalent) safety standards, including mandatory equipment inspections. Because balloons only fly in the calmest conditions (usually at sunrise or sunset), the risk of a catastrophic event is minimal, making it a highly popular and safe "bucket list" activity worldwide.