The hot air balloon struck the side of Sky River Casino in Elk Grove, California, on Monday, April 27
Credit: Elk Grove Police Department/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- A hot air balloon struck Sky River Casino and a power line in Elk Grove, California on Monday, April 27
- The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured and safely landed the balloon in a nearby field
- Authorities said the balloon made an unplanned launch from Sky River Casino due to “unexpected strong winds”
A hot air balloon crashed into a casino in California on Monday, officials have said.
The Elk Grove Police Department shared in an April 27 Facebook post that the incident took place at around 12:15 p.m. local time after the hot air balloon made an "unplanned launch" from Sky River Casino "due to unexpected strong winds."
“The balloon struck the side of the casino as well as a power line before eventually descending and coming to rest in a field southeast of Grant Line Road,” the police department wrote.
They added, “The pilot was the sole occupant and was not injured. The FAA and NTSB were notified.”
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In footage obtained by local media outlet KCRA, the hot air balloon could be seen in the air before striking a tree and then slamming into the side of the casino.
Credit: Elk Grove Police Department/Facebook
The hot air balloon then traveled over the top of the casino, before gaining height. The balloon remained in the air for around 20 minutes, per KCRA.
It then made a final landing at around 12:29 p.m., according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
“Due to unexpected heavy winds, the pilot chose to launch into free flight in accordance with safety protocols,” Sky River Casino said in a statement to the outlet. “The balloon and pilot have landed safely.”
Credit: KCRA 3
The casino had been hosting a ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction on a new resort, per San Francisco Chronicle.
“We were watching it live as he was struggling,” an Elk Grove resident told CBS Sacramento. “It's almost like when a balloon goes up from a child's birthday party, and seeing how it deteriorates, this was just a giant-sized balloon.”
PEOPLE reached out to Sky River Casino, the FAA and the NTSB for comment.
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