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Briton 'killed in balloon crash' | Briton 'killed in balloon crash' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A British man has been killed and nine other tourists injured in a hot-air balloon crash during a trip in central Turkey, local media reports have said. | A British man has been killed and nine other tourists injured in a hot-air balloon crash during a trip in central Turkey, local media reports have said. |
The balloon dropped 200 metres (660 ft) shortly after leaving Nevsehir province for a tour of the Cappadocia region, the Anatolia news agency reported. | The balloon dropped 200 metres (660 ft) shortly after leaving Nevsehir province for a tour of the Cappadocia region, the Anatolia news agency reported. |
A 61-year-old man died and nine others suffered fractures, it said. The pilot is also believed to have been injured. | A 61-year-old man died and nine others suffered fractures, it said. The pilot is also believed to have been injured. |
British consular officials are heading to the area to offer their support. | British consular officials are heading to the area to offer their support. |
Suat Ulosoy, a balloon pilot who works in the area, said he understood the accident happened when one balloon flew above another and its basket ripped open the envelope, or fabric. | |
The damaged balloon then "descended very fast", he said, and the pilot was unable to regain control before it hit the ground. | |
An inquiry had been launched into the cause of the crash, the Anatolia news agency said. | |
Popular attraction | |
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm we have received reports of a number of British nationals being involved in a ballooning accident. | A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm we have received reports of a number of British nationals being involved in a ballooning accident. |
"Consular officials are in contact with local authorities and are travelling to the area to provide consular assistance." | "Consular officials are in contact with local authorities and are travelling to the area to provide consular assistance." |
A number of companies offer hot-air balloon rides above the Cappadocia region, which attracts tourists with its cone-shaped rock formations known as "fairy chimneys". | |
The ancient name of Cappadocia is still widely used by the Turkish tourist industry to describe an area that covers a number of present-day provinces in the Central Anatolian region. | |
The latest balloon crash follows another incident in Egypt in which two British women were injured. | |
Three Egyptian operators and 13 foreign tourists were also hurt when their balloon came down during a tour of the ancient city of Luxor last month. | |
A fortnight earlier seven tourists were injured in a similar crash in the country. | A fortnight earlier seven tourists were injured in a similar crash in the country. |
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