16 Feared Dead in Hot Air Balloon Crash

A hot air balloon with at least 16 people on board caught fire and crashed in Texas on Saturday morning, leaving all passengers presumed dead. The balloon crashed into a pasture in Lockhart, Texas, and police are currently “determining the number and the identities of the victims,” the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office said. Police responded after receiving a call about a possible car accident only to discover the wreckage from the balloon. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have begun working at the scene as part of an investigation into the cause of the crash. So far, it is believed that the fire broke out in the basket part of the balloon. An FAA spokesperson said the names of the victims “will be released by local officials after relatives have been notified.”