During the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta last week, a hot-air balloon struck and collapsed a radio station tower in Albuquerque, NM, according to the AP. Fortunately, there were no injuries, as the balloon, carrying three people, landed safely in a field after hitting the tower, which transmits signals for KKOB-AM.
The FAA is investigating the incident, involving an Aerostar International Inc. S-57A balloon, which took off as part of the festival. This is the second time a balloon has struck the same tower during the event, with a similar accident involving a Smokey Bear-shaped balloon occurring in 2004. News footage of the aftermath of this latest incident showed no other structures were in the path of the collapsed tower.
Earlier in the week, another balloon had made contact with a power line, briefly cutting power to nearly 13,000 customers. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, one of the world’s most photographed events, draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to witness more than 100 colorful and uniquely shaped balloons each fall.
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