2013 Luxor hot air balloon crash
Hot air balloons preparing to launch in Luxor in 2013; SU-283 is back center, being gassed up for its fatal flight.
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| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 February 2013, 07:00 EST |
| Summary | Hot air balloon crash |
| Site | Luxor, Egypt |
| Passengers | 20 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 19 |
| Injuries (non-fatal) | 2 (serious) |
| Survivors | 2 |
| Aircraft type | Ultramagic N-425 balloon |
| Operator | Sky Cruise |
| Registration | SU-283 |
On 26 February 2013, at 07:00 Egypt Standard Time (05:00 UTC), a hot air balloon crashed near Luxor, Egypt. The crash resulted in 19 deaths out of 21 passengers – 18 on-site and one in hospital hours later. It is the deadliest ballooning accident in history and the deadliest aerostat disaster since the Hindenburg disaster in 1937 which killed 36 people.
Hot air balloons are commonly used in Egypt to provide tourists with an aerial view of the country's landscape and famous landmarks. In Luxor, such rides offer views of the Nile River, the temple of Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings, among other attractions. Concerns over passenger safety have been raised from time to time, with multiple crashes reported in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
In April 2009, 16 people were hurt when a balloon crashed during a tour of Luxor. After the crash, flights were grounded for six months while safety measures were improved. Pilot training was increased and balloons were given a designated landing zone. Following the toppling of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, the rule of law has largely been ignored.
Sky Cruise, the operator of the balloon, had suffered a previous accident in October 2011. The company has stated that it is properly insured and prepared to compensate victims' families.
Early on 26 February, an Ultramagic N-425 balloon, registration SU-283, operated by Sky Cruise departed on a sight-seeing flight carrying twenty passengers and a pilot. According to a nearby balloon pilot, Mohamed Youssef, a fire started in the Sky Cruise balloon a few meters off the ground as it was attempting to land, as a result of a leaking fuel line. As the fire engulfed the basket, the pilot and one passenger leaped to safety as the craft rose rapidly aided by a wind gust. As the balloon rose, approximately seven passengers jumped to their deaths to escape the fire. At an altitude of approximately 300 meters (980 ft), there was an explosion which could be heard several kilometers away. The balloon and remaining passengers plunged to the ground, killing everyone remaining on board. One eyewitness remarked that he heard "a huge bang. It was a frightening bang, even though it was several kilometers away" from his location. Youssef said it appeared that a gas leak in one of the balloon's tanks caused the fire and resulting explosion, consistent with information reported in state-run media. Earlier reports had indicated that the balloon may have contacted a power line.
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