Thursday, 4:30 PM
Hot air balloon crashes in Westport
(Robert E. Klein for The Boston Globe)
David Gifford, the owner of Balloon Adventures of New Bedford, stood by his balloon basket this morning and talked about the crash in Westport.
By Globe Staff
A hot air balloon carrying seven people hit two utility wires this morning and crashed in Westport, leaving one passenger with minor burns and knocking out electricity to 100 customers, according to aviation and utility officials.
The balloon, registered to Balloon Adventure of New Bedford Inc., came down at 7 a.m. near Sodom Road, according police and Jim Peters, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the crash.
"The pilot indicted to our investigator at the scene that he encountered a down draft," Peters said.
The balloon was being piloted by David Gifford. A phone message left at Balloon Adventure of New Bedford Inc. was not returned.
Electricity was restored to the 100 customers near Sodom Road in about 90 minutes, said NStar spokesman Michael Durand.
Because there were no serious injuries and the balloon did not sustain much damage, the National Transportation Safety Board will not investigate the crash, Peters said. The FAA will issue a report detailing its preliminary findings in a few days, he said.
