Remember the Albuquerque Balloon Crash?

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

This past June a hot air balloon crashed in the middle of a busy intersection, killing the pilot and two middle age couples who'd received the ride as a gift. It was a perfect day for the flight and experts were baffled as to how it could have happened.

Yesterday the FAA released the results of the toxicology tests on the pilot, an older, highly respected, experienced man. The man had high levels of Marijuana and cocaine, so high they could have been fatal. To think his passengers trusted their lives with him. Now there's talk about requiring testing of all hot air balloon pilots. This would greatly increase the cost of participating in the sport. So be it.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Wow, how awful! I had not heard about this but it's so tragic and the part that always angers me is when it could have been avoided, in lieu of the unacceptable behavior of this guy who caused the deaths of two innocent people who probably had no idea he was wasted.

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

That saddens me no end. Can't imagine what he was thinking, although he might have been impaired many times. Just think of what we sometimes hear about airline pilots

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

@Kachina624 why shouldn't testing be required of anyone piloting a commercial vehicle

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@chickenbutt wrote:
Wow, how awful! I had not heard about this but it's so tragic and the part that always angers me is when it could have been avoided, in lieu of the unacceptable behavior of this guy who caused the deaths of two innocent people who probably had no idea he was wasted.

@chickenbutt Four innocent people, two couples. Five deaths total. Plus his family is horrified and humiliated

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@millieshops wrote:
@Kachina624 why shouldn't testing be required of anyone piloting a commercial vehicle

@millieshops It should

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

@Kachina624 we agree but I just Googled about testing for commercial pilots. Makes me glad to put both feet on the ground!

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

Balloon pilots don't need to pass medical exams like other pilots either and that can pose a risk for their passengers if the pilot has medical issues which could cause flight incompetence.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

That is too bad. What a horrible accident that could have been avoided.

I am scared to death of heights and would never ride in a balloon. But, I would love to see the balloon festival from the ground. That has been on my travel list for many years.