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| Egypt balloon crash hurts Britons | Egypt balloon crash hurts Britons |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Two Britons were among 13 foreign tourists to be injured when a hot air balloon crashed in Egypt, the UK Foreign Office has confirmed. | |
| Three Egyptian operators were hurt when the balloon came down during a tour of the ancient city of Luxor. It is said to have hit a mobile phone mast. | Three Egyptian operators were hurt when the balloon came down during a tour of the ancient city of Luxor. It is said to have hit a mobile phone mast. |
| Several people were taken to hospital with minor injuries but have since been released, the governor of Luxor said. | Several people were taken to hospital with minor injuries but have since been released, the governor of Luxor said. |
| It is the latest of several incidents involving balloons in Egypt recently. | |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Two Britons were confirmed injured. | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Two Britons were confirmed injured. |
| "Their next of kin have been informed and we are providing consular assistance." | "Their next of kin have been informed and we are providing consular assistance." |
| BBC correspondent Christian Fraser said he understood the balloon hit the communications tower on the west bank of the Nile, near the village of Gourna. | |
| Crashes | |
| There were eight French tourists on board, along with the two Britons, a Canadian, a Dane and a Korean. | |
| A fortnight ago seven tourists were injured in a similar crash. | |
| In late February, three hot air balloons carrying 60 tourists crashed on the same day in separate locations. Seven passengers suffered injuries including broken bones. | |
| Mr Fraser said: "The problem appears to be the number of balloon companies that are working in the area - all of them competing on price. | |
| "So far there have been no deaths but in the past the government has been forced to ground the balloons while it investigates safety." |