Hot air balloon crash leaves four dead and one critically injured
Four people have tragically lost their lives and one has been left critically injured after a devastating hot air balloon crash in Arizona.
A group of skydivers - watched by other passengers onboard - jumped from floating hot air balloon as it went over the Arizona desert just moments before it crash-landed on Sunday (January 14).
The crash left the four remaining passengers dead and another person critically injured in hospital, police have announced.
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The incident happened at around 7:50am local time on Sunday in Eloy, a city about 65 miles south of Phoenix.
In a statement, the Eloy Police Department said: "This morning, a devastating incident occurred in our community.
"At around 7:50 AM, a hot air balloon crash-landed in the desert area east of Sunshine Blvd. and Hanna Rd. in Eloy, resulting in four fatalities and one critical injury.
"We are working closely with federal agencies, including the NTSB and FAA, to investigate the cause of this tragic event.
"While we continue our efforts, we ask for your thoughts and support for the families and loved ones affected during this difficult time."
Eloy Mayor Micah Powell has stated that the aircraft was carrying 13 adults - a balloon operator, four passengers and eight skydivers, adding that a witness had told local authorities that in the seconds leading up to the impact, 'the material of the hot air balloon was just straight up and down, and the impact was fairly, fairly large'.
Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney told reporters at a press conference: "What we know at this point is the skydivers were able to exit the balloon without incident and completed their planned skydiving event, and then shortly thereafter something catastrophic happened with the balloon causing it to crash to the ground."
He also said that the skydivers had intended to touch down at the Eloy Municipal Airport, a short trip from the scene of the incident.
"The incident appeared to occur very quickly," the police chief added, calling it 'an absolute tragedy' for the community.
"Out of respect for their privacy, the names of the victims are being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin," the Eloy Police Department added in a press release.
However, one victim, 28-year-old nurse, Katie Bartrom, has been identified by her family.
Her mother, Jennifer Hubartt, told ABC15 Arizona that her daughter loved 'skydiving and adventure'.
"It's kind of somber here at home. We're crying about her on and off and talking about her on and off still trying to make it real," she said.
"She was a beautiful person, she recently became an RN and was making it on her own."
According to her mother, Bartrom had travelled from her home in Indiana to Arizona along with some friends.
"I talked to her while she was down there and she was really enjoying the experience and having fun and seeing a new place that she had never seen before." she said.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials said the balloon crashed after an unspecified problem with the envelope, ABC15 also reports.
The incident is currently under investigation.
UNILAD has contacted the Eloy Police Department for comment.
Callum Jones