No Injuries As Air Balloon Lands On Melbourne Rooftops

An early-morning hot air balloon ride over Melbourne was more eventful than expected on Wednesday, when it crash landed on an apartment rooftop.

No one was injured during the incident, which was filmed by passenger Jayde Magookin as he and 12 other people were bounced over roofs and treetops.

Pilot Nick Brau said the balloon was brand new, but would not fly properly.

Mr Magookin, 34, said the crash landing was “terrifying” but he and the other passengers could laugh about it now.

The balloon – which was on its maiden flight in the Australian city – ended up draped over two rooftops in the southern suburb of Elwood, and pictures showed the basket lying in a carpark.

Mr Brau, who is the director of Liberty Balloon Flights, managed to avoid light poles and overhead cables, but some buildings were damaged as he struggled to maintain altitude.

The pilot said he was not sure what went wrong, and was shaken by the accident as it is “not very pleasant when these things happen.”

An investigation will now be done by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.