Hot air balloon emergency landing
Apr 17, 2018, 12:33 PM | Updated: Jun 7, 2022, 4:00 pm
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A close call for people on a hot air balloon ride in San Diego. On Sunday, the pilot and 13 passengers were forced to make an emergency landing, and there were a few bumpy moments before balloon made it down.
The balloon ended up setting down on a hillside at Peñasquitos Drive and Del Diablo Way west of Interstate 15.
Neighbors jumped in to help, stabilizing the basket and helping get the passengers out safely.
Home security video captured the balloon basket crashing through a glass fence, nearly hitting a home.
“It just came across, probably buzzed the roof line of our neighbors and came across here,” said homeowner Michael Lomotan.
The balloon pilot said that’s the first time he’s ever done that.
Lomotan said, “He’s pretty casual about it. I think he’s pretty humorous. But I think that’s good. If you are about to crash there’s nothing like being casual and saying, ‘Hey we’re going to get pass this.”
The pilot said the winds shifted and he couldn’t make the normal landing zone just a few miles away.
