Two Balloon Incidents in One Day Leave Three Injured in Poland

Three people fell from a hot-air balloon basket in Słupski Młyn on Friday morning after it struck tree branches, while a separate incident occurred in Grudziądz.

The Incident in Słupski Młyn

The incident in Słupski Młyn in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship occurred on Friday, July 31, at around 6:20 AM. According to preliminary police findings, the balloon struck tree branches while lowering its altitude, and the violent maneuver caused three people—the pilot and two female passengers—to fall out of the basket.

Service Intervention and Injuries

Police officers immediately arrived at the scene, and Senior Aspirant Łukasz Kowalczyk, press officer of the Municipal Police Commander in Grudziądz, reported that two people sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The injured individuals were transported to a hospital for medical diagnostics.

Contradictory Reports on the Pilot

Media reports indicated that the pilot jumped from the balloon while the passengers fell out when it hit the ground. Police are currently investigating whether the pilot made a deliberate attempt at an emergency evacuation from the basket or if the fall resulted accidentally from the collision with the ground, noting that initial reports are subject to analysis.

Search for the Empty Balloon

After the crew left the basket, the empty balloon drifted further away, prompting emergency services to launch operations to locate and secure it. The police officer stated they are still in the search phase and cannot confirm or deny whether the object poses a threat to local residents.

Investigation by the State Commission

The exact causes and circumstances of the accident will be investigated by the State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation, which will issue a final decision after collecting all complete materials.

Second Incident in Grudziądz County

The Polish Press Agency reported that a second balloon incident occurred on the same day in Grudziądz, where senior brigadier Małgorzata Jarocka-Krzemkowska, spokesperson for the Provincial Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Toruń, stated that a balloon with one person on board lifted off and struck a power line during pre-flight preparations.

Condition of the Pilot and Ground Crew

The balloon descended to the ground with a damaged envelope, but the pilot and the person assisting on the ground were unhurt.