NZers injured in balloon crash
Four New Zealand tourists have been involved in a fatal hot-air balloon crash in Egypt.
The sight-seeing balloon carrying tourists over Egypt’s ancient city of Luxor crash-landed on Friday night (NZT), killing a tourist from South Africa and injuring at least 12 others, including a number of Australians.
Strong winds forced the balloon, which was carrying 20 tourists, off course above the southern city, home to some of Egypt’s most famous temples and tombs. The balloon took off around sunrise and flew about 45 minutes at an altitude of 450m before the pilot lost control over a mountainous area, the officials said, adding that the pilot was also injured.
They said other balloons had taken off around the same time but landed safely.
The New Zealand embassy in Cairo is providing consular assistance to four New Zealanders, none of whom were seriously injured, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.
An official statement from the Luxor governorate confirmed that 12 people were injured.
The state-run MENA news agency, citing Egypt’s health minister, said all those wounded have been treated, and three have undergone operations.
Tourists from Australia, France and Brazil were among those injured, it said, citing an unnamed medical official.
The agency quoted Hany alAdawy, head of the civil aviation authority, as saying that the crash was "accidental" and that balloon flights would continue operating as usual.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to "several Australians" involved in the accident.
Earlier in the day, Egypt’s meteorological service had warned of strong winds across the country, mainly in northern Egypt. The bad weather conditions have led to the closure of several Red Sea ports.
Luxor has a history of hot air balloon crashes. The deadliest took place in 2013 when a balloon flying over the city caught fire and plunged about 305m, crashing into a sugar cane field and killing at least 19 foreign tourists. Ballooning experts say the accident was the worst in the 200-year history.