Two British tourists have been seriously injured after a hot air balloon crashed into high-voltage power lines near Mexico City. The incident occurred on Monday morning in San Lorenzo Tlamimilolpan, as the couple were taking an aerial tour over the Teotihuacan pyramids.
The balloon was descending when it struck power lines and crashed onto a football field. Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and screams. Farmer Refugio Hernandez described finding the woman lying in the basket, bleeding and moaning in pain, with severe bruising and a suspected broken leg. Her partner also sustained injuries and was in shock.
The balloon operator emerged unscathed. Local residents provided assistance before paramedics arrived and stabilised the couple, who were then taken to a private clinic in Teotihuacan. The Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) confirmed the balloon, registered as XA-OZY and operated by Happy Puerto, carried two people who suffered burns from an electric shock. They were later transferred to a private hospital in Mexico City.
Residents expressed concern, noting that balloons frequently fly dangerously close to power lines. Maria de los Angeles Perez said: 'This could have been far worse. There are houses here and children playing. Today it was tourists, tomorrow it could fall in the town centre.' The AFAC has launched an administrative investigation into whether human error or technical failure caused the crash.
