Horror as hot air balloon crashes into building – woman falls to her death | World | News
Balloon champion falls from hot air balloon and dies (Image: Social media/e2w)
A champion hot air balloon pilot died after his balloon crashed into a building and then crashed to the ground in a devastating accident in western Poland.
Jagoda Gancarek, 28, died after falling out of a basket on the morning of Monday, March 9, when the balloon crashed into an apartment block in Zielona Gora. Images taken from the scene show the white, green and yellow balloon flying dangerously low over a residential area, then crashing into a building and rapidly descending towards the street.
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28 tragically killed (Image: Jam Press/e2w)
The balloon eventually fell to ground level, where the deflated envelope was wrapped around a tree and draped over a bus.
Gancarek and two other women were on board the flight, which took off from the Lubuskie County Aero Club.
According to the information obtained, the trio remained in the air for approximately 90 minutes after the balloon got into trouble.
When the plane hit the apartment building, Gancarek was thrown from the basket and landed on the roof of the building.
Medical teams and helicopters arrived at the scene and intervened, but despite efforts to resuscitate the woman, she could not be saved.
Local police spokesperson Malgorzata Stanislawska also confirmed the tragedy.
“As a result of the accident, a 28-year-old woman fell from the basket and died from the roof of the buildings,” he said.
“Unfortunately, despite all the interventions, he could not be saved.”
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The balloon continued to descend, with two other women still clinging to the basket, before making an emergency landing in the city centre.
Both passengers were able to exit the vehicle without serious injury.
Images from the crash scene show the basket resting next to a bus and the balloon fabric hanging from nearby tree branches, while the torn balloon lies across the street.
Investigations into the incident are currently being carried out by Polish police and the State Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission.
Gancarek was a highly respected balloon pilot and instructor who previously spoke of the peace he found while flying.
“You are left alone with your thoughts. It’s an incredible feeling,” he once said.
“Of course there’s adrenaline, but first of all you just focus on getting things done.”
She won the Polish Women’s Champion title at the 11th Women’s Balloon Championship held in Naleczow last year.
Lubuskie District Aero Club stated that it commemorated the pilot in a statement following his death.
“We will remember Jagoda as a warm and always smiling person, full of passion and who loved to fly,” the club said in a statement.
