Ops-Normal.org

3 seriously injured after hot air balloon collides with train in Wisconsin

https://thehill.com/news/3509222-3-seri ... wisconsin/

BURLINGTON, Wis. (WFRV) — Three people suffered life-threatening injuries after a hot air balloon reportedly collided with a train in Wisconsin.

The Burlington Police Department said that on Wednesday around 8:15 p.m., first responders were dispatched after it was reported that a train had hit a hot air balloon. Three people in the balloon reportedly had life-threatening injuries.

Two people were airlifted to a local hospital, and an ambulance transported a third. Witnesses reportedly told authorities that the hot air balloon “appeared in distress and collided with a Northbound Canadian National Train,” according to police.

The Burlington Police Department is conducting an investigation with the National Traffic Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, Canadian National and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

No additional details were provided.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 262-342-1104.

PP

I guess it's a situation where the train can't take avoiding action and the balloon has very limited capability to change direction, especially if there's adverse wind and possibly a downdraft preventing it from gaining height (or it was out of fuel to heat the air).

llondel wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:57 pm

I guess it's a situation where the train can't take avoiding action and the balloon has very limited capability to change direction, especially if there's adverse wind and possibly a downdraft preventing it from gaining height (or it was out of fuel to heat the air).

A bit like that apocryphal story about the lighthouse and the USN Frigate, or whatever!