The Federal Aviation Administration is looking into what caused the Massachusetts hot air balloon accident that left five people injured. The accident happened Saturday when the balloon “Raspberry Ripple” struck power lines as its operator tried to land in Clinton, Worcester County. The operator of the hot air balloon is Damn Yankee Balloons, which is based in Maine.
The impact with the lines caused a couple of explosions, resulting severe burns to two of the passengers. There is a possibility that the hot air balloon wasn’t flying high enough during the birthday celebration ride. The balloon crash-landed on private property.
The Clinton, MA hot air balloon accident took place just two months after another hot air balloon also struck power lines, exploding into flames in Virginia. Three people died in that incident.
Recently, the family of Grant Adamson filed a wrongful death lawsuit against hot air balloon pilot Christian Dupuy, travel agencies Bucher Travel and Protravel International, and Gstaad’s Grand Hotel Park in Switzerland. Christian Dupuy had a blood level alcohol level that was way above the Swiss legal limit when the balloon crashed, killing the 55-year-old Adamson and seriously injuring his wife and two daughters.
According to police, the hot air balloon collided with an electric power line while Dupuy attempted a landing. The balloon then fell 165 feet. Adamson’s family is seeking $53.8 million. His descendants are credited with founding Malibu, California.
In Massachusetts, please contact our Boston injury law firm to explore your legal options if you or someone you love was injured in a hot air balloon accident. You may have reason to file a negligence case against the operator, the balloon company, the touring company, or some other party who was responsible. If the Massachusetts hot air balloon accident happened because the device was defective, you may be able to file a products liability case.
Hot air balloon hits power lines in Massachusetts, The Christian Science Monitor, July 21, 2014
Video shows hot air balloon’s fiery crash into power lines, ABC News, July 21, 2014
The wealthy descendant of Malibu’s founders identified as the American tourist killed in Swiss hot air balloon crash that injured his wife and two daughters, Daily Mail, August 7, 2013
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