In 2023, the BEA published seven reports concerning hot-air balloon occurrences, five of these taking place during commercial flights with passengers. Three passengers were seriously injured, and a pilot and a passenger slightly injured.

Five accidents and a serious incident occurred while landing and one accident while passengers were boarding.

1. Management of aerological conditions

In four of the seven published reports, the aerological conditions were close to, and even exceeded, the recommended limits in the balloon user manuals.

During the accident to OK-8281 on 28 April 2023 at La Chapelle-en-Lafaye, the pilot was confronted with strong wind which complicated the search for a suitable landing area. During a second approach, a change in wind direction pushed the balloon towards a power line. Believing that she did not have time to climb before reaching the line, the pilot carried out an emergency landing. The envelope came into contact with the power line and was burnt by electric arcs. During the accident to F-GXRS on 7 January 2023 at Combloux, the pilot was also obliged to carry out an emergency landing in the context of a strong wind and with fog present in the valley bottom. The balloon came to a halt in a tree, with the basket suspended around five metres from the ground. The emergency services evacuated the occupants who were all unharmed.

On 24 September 2023 at Claveyson, F-HMOP struck a power line while landing. The basket had touched down 200 m before the power line and was then dragged by the wind onto the line. The pilot stated that the weather forecasts indicated wind of 5 to 10 km/h. During the flight, he had at times observed wind speeds of 20 to 25 km/h.

On 25 June 2023 at Saint-Christoly-Médoc, the pilot of F-HOFA was confronted with a wind which increased in strength and changed direction during the descent at the end of the flight. On approaching the Gironde estuary which he did not wish to fly over, the pilot decided to land quickly. The landing was hard and during a bounce, one of the cables securing the envelope wrapped around the pilot’s neck. When the basket tipped over, the cables tightened, strangling the pilot. He managed to slide a hand between the cable and his neck, and escape.

On 13 August 2022 at Bondy, the accident to F-GYFR occurred during a tethered flight. The high ambient temperature, over 30°C and the strong sun approaching the solar noon in the middle of summer were conducive to the development of thermal phenomena incompatible with this type of flight. Furthermore, the meteorological forecasts had suggested that the wind speed could exceed the limits specified by the flight manual. In addition to a possible desire to satisfy a commercial commitment, the report mentions a possible underestimation of the risks associated with these weather conditions for a tethered flight.

2. Passenger injuries

This issue has already been covered in the previous three balloon reviews. The landing can sometimes be quite dynamic and passengers are not always aware of this. Touchdown can prove rough, in particular when there is a strong wind or during an emergency descent with a high vertical speed. In these conditions, passengers may be surprised and their physical capabilities may be exceeded. The risk is all the greater when the physical condition of a passenger is conducive to injury.

During the accident to F-HHLC on 16 September 2022 at Le Liège, a 72-year-old passenger was seriously injured and her friend was slightly injured. During the landing, the basket tipped and one of the passengers, probably taken by surprise, was unable to hold her safety position and was thrown onto her friend, resulting in injuries to both of them. The destabilization of the passenger was possibly linked to a lack of concentration. Furthermore, the physical capabilities of the two passengers were potentially exceeded by the dynamic character of the balloon landing. In the 2022 balloon review, the importance of being able to hold the safety position in order to limit the risks of injury during the landing was underlined.

For the accident to F-GMTD on 17 June 2023 at Nazelles-Négron, an 82-year-old passenger was injured while boarding. He lost his balance when climbing into the basket. 

A passenger was also injured in the accident to F-GYFR following the unexpected take-off of the tethered balloon followed by a quick descent.

Reminder of themes in previous years

Balloon themes in 2020:

1. Injuries to passengers during landing
2. Collision with an obstacle during a landing

Balloon themes in 2021:

1. Taking of risks and non-essential manoeuvres for the management of the flight
2. Collision with an obstacle during a landing
3. Injuries to passengers during landing

Balloon themes in 2022:

1. Injuries to passengers during landing
2. Safety position during landing
3. Knowledge of regulatory requirements for commercial passenger flights
4. Other: accident with tethered balloon in instruction