Drivers in one Edmond neighborhood got a surprise on Saturday when a hot air balloon carrying six people made an unplanned landing right in the middle of their street, briefly blocking traffic while officers moved in to secure the area. Police stayed on scene as the crew packed up the balloon’s envelope and basket, and the roadway reopened once everything was cleared out.
Pilot: ‘I was circling a block radius’
Pilot Darrell Duer Jr. said shifting winds pushed the balloon lower than expected as he searched for somewhere safe to put it down. According to WBAL NewsRadio, six people were on board when the balloon came in over the neighborhood and Duer told reporters he “was circling a block radius” as the conditions worsened and his landing options tightened.
Police: roadway cleared, no injuries
Edmond Police Department officers responded to the unusual call and quickly shut down the street while the balloon crew deflated the envelope and broke down the basket. Officials said traffic was allowed through again once the balloon was packed away and confirmed that no one was hurt, according to KOCO.
Pilot’s experience and why neighborhood landings happen
Duer is no rookie in the ballooning world. He comes from a long line of balloon pilots and told The Journal Record that his first ride was back in 1977. He now operates passenger flights around the Oklahoma City area.
According to the FAA’s Balloon Flying Handbook, pilots are instructed to pick the safest landing spot available. When winds shift or fuel limits how far they can go, even veteran pilots sometimes have to settle for tight landings in places like yards or neighborhood streets if that is what keeps passengers safest.
Not an outlier nationally
As strange as a balloon parked in the street might look, it is not completely unheard of. Earlier this month, a hot air balloon carrying 13 passengers made an emergency landing in a backyard in Temecula, California. That incident left everyone rattled but unharmed, according to the Los Angeles Times…