Is it safe to go up in a hot air balloon?

According to the FAA's Aviation Accident Database, hot air ballooning is the safest form of air travel and is rarely involved in aviation crashes. In fact, the FAA has discovered that driving a car is more likely to result in injury than flying in an aeroplane or hot air balloon!



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Hot air balloons are generally considered safe, with decades of data showing that they are one of the safest forms of air travel. According to the FAA's Aviation Accident Database, hot air ballooning is the safest form of all air travel and is rarely involved in aviation crashes.

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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.

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Most modern hot air balloons don't carry parachutes due to their high safety standards. Qualified pilots must run a series of safety checks before every flight. Part of those checks is inspecting the condition of the balloon, burners, and basket.

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Dangers of Hot Air Balloons
  • Bad Weather. Bad weather, especially high winds and monsoons, can be extremely dangerous for hot air balloons. ...
  • Collisions. ...
  • Pilot Inexperience. ...
  • Dress Appropriately. ...
  • Always Listen to Your Pilot. ...
  • Brace for Landing.


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If a hot air balloon runs out of gas, it'll slowly begin descending. That's because the balloon only generates lift through burning fuel to heat the air in the envelope. The lack of regular heating leads the air inside the balloon to gradually cool, reducing altitude in the process.

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1. 2013 Luxor Hot Air Balloon Crash. The most horrific hot air balloon disaster ever occurred on February 26, 2013, near Luxor, Egypt. Hot air balloon rides are extremely popular among tourists visiting Egypt as the rides provide an aerial view of the magical landscape of the country.

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A hot air balloon flight usually lasts about an hour. In that time, the balloon can travel between two and eight miles depending on the wind speed.

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HOW LONG IS AN AVERAGE BALLOON FLIGHT? Usually a balloon flight lasts about an hour. At an average wind speed of about 5 mph, a balloon will fly 2 – 8 miles. Ground crews follow the balloon, talking on the radio with the pilot.

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One thing people often overlook when going on hot air balloon rides – there are no toilets on board. Considering you'll be in the air for a couple of hours, always make sure you use the bathroom before take-off. Once again, the best hot air balloon rides are the ones when you're fully relaxed.

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Steve Fossett became the first balloonist to travel around the world in a hot air balloon on a solo flight. This was a great achievement for him when he landed on Tuesday 2nd July 2002, becoming the first and only person to have managed to travel around the world solo in a hot air balloon.

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