The accident occurred about three years after 19 people, mostly Asian and European tourists, were killed in a hot-air balloon crash in Luxor, Egypt. Federal Aviation Administration said the fiery crash occurred near Lockhart, about 30 miles (50 km) away from south of Austin. A year before that incident, a hot-air balloon burst into flames and crashed in New Zealand, killing all 11 people on board. Emergency responders in Texas said the basket portion of the hot-air balloon, which carries the passenger and crew, had caught fire. More than 150 commercial hot-air balloon companies operate in North America, he said.

Source: dna July 31, 2016 02:26 UTC