Hot air balloon crash lands at hospital
FOURWAYS - A hot air balloon flight session turned horribly wrong as instructor and student were forced to land at Fourways Life Hospital.
It was reported Pioneer Aviation pilot Marc Nuthall and student pilot Vincent Cook were flying back to Chartwell when their balloon was blown northeast from its destination.
In the report, Nutall said a slow wind led the balloon in a different direction from where they had planned to land. Motorists, pedestrians and local residents waved and smiled as the two flew down to land in close proximity to them. However, security guards at the hospital were caught unaware and confused when the giant balloon came down on hospital property.
Nuthall said, “They were very helpful and friendly, though I had to explain what happened in a report to the hospital management. He said there were other landing options, but the hospital was the safest because of heavy early morning traffic and nearby construction sites. The report said Life Healthcare confirmed the landing, saying there were no casualties or damage to the property.
In his many years of aeronautics, Nuthall has often had to land in unplanned places.
He was reported as saying student hot-air balloon pilots need at least 16 flying hours before going for their intermediate and final checkouts.
