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Hot Air Balloon collides with KYKX Longview Tower

D

DaveSt

I did not see this posted elsewhere, but a lucky escape for the two people in the balloon.

Two passengers rescued after hot air balloon crash into Texas cell tower leaves them dangling 920 feet up

260228-Longview-Fire-Department-ch-1524-bb9147.jpg

Two occupants of a hot air balloon were rescued after it struck a cellphone tower in Longview, Texas, on Saturday and was left dangling precipitously some 920 feet up.

Both occupants are conscious and no injuries have been reported at this time, according to the Longview Fire Department.The department called it a “high angle rescue.”

The Longview Fire Department responded to the incident at 8:15 this morning, and it took over an hour to climb to the height of the hot air balloon to rescue the two occupants.

“Climbing operations began around 8:50 AM using multiple rope systems due to the extreme height and complexity of the incident,” the fire department posted on Facebook.

Rescuers made contact with the two occupants of the hot air balloon at approximately 10 a.m.......
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There is a video of the rescue here:
 
As an East Texan who knows a little about the area, exactly why was this up in the air in the first place? Was this flight coordinated and cleared by the ATC at East Texas Regional Airport? The Great Texas Balloon Race isn't until June, where tens upon tens of these balloons are launched. All fine and good when Longview was much smaller, but perhaps it's time to reevaluate the race and move it somewhere without as many vertical obstructions to contend with.

As for KYKX, no audible or visual difference. Both analog and HD are normal.
 
rosecitymedia said:
As an East Texan who knows a little about the area, exactly why was this up in the air in the first place? Was this flight coordinated and cleared by the ATC at East Texas Regional Airport?
Click to expand...
Hot air balloons are not generally subject to ATC regulations, provided they stay below 1000 ft and do not enter the flight path of airports. Even then, aircraft are to defer to balloons if spotted, because the balloon is helpless to avoid even a Cessna 172.
 
rosecitymedia said:
As an East Texan who knows a little about the area, exactly why was this up in the air in the first place? Was this flight coordinated and cleared by the ATC at East Texas Regional Airport? The Great Texas Balloon Race isn't until June, where tens upon tens of these balloons are launched. All fine and good when Longview was much smaller, but perhaps it's time to reevaluate the race and move it somewhere without as many vertical obstructions to contend with.

As for KYKX, no audible or visual difference. Both analog and HD are normal.
Click to expand...
Any alcoholic that can fake a drug test can fly a hot air balloon and accept money for rides. The industry is left to self-regulate and look what happens. It’s also what killed those folks in Lockhart
 
Ryan Williams said:
Not to be pedantic, but for there to be a "collision" two objects involved must be moving. Because the tower is stationary, it isn't really "collision".
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A quick search gives us this AI result:

“A collision is a violent, forceful, and typically sudden impact between two or more moving or stationary objects, such as vehicles, particles, or, figuratively, conflicting ideas.”

(emphasis added)
 
Looks like there has been so much misuse, AP actually changed the meaning!

AP announces new policy over the term ‘collision’

The Associated Press has changed the laws of physics. Sorta, kinda. At the annual introduction of new style guidelines presented at the conference of ACES: The Society for Editing, Paula Froke, the lead editor for the Associated Press Stylebook, said AP would no longer require that two bodies...
www.cjr.org www.cjr.org
 
Ryan Williams said:
Looks like there has been so much misuse, AP actually changed the meaning!

AP announces new policy over the term ‘collision’

The Associated Press has changed the laws of physics. Sorta, kinda. At the annual introduction of new style guidelines presented at the conference of ACES: The Society for Editing, Paula Froke, the lead editor for the Associated Press Stylebook, said AP would no longer require that two bodies...
www.cjr.org www.cjr.org
Click to expand...

I'm also not sure exactly how two stationary objects would collide, though, if it ever were to happen, that would apparently also fit the definition!
 


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