Wind gusts blamed for air balloon tragedy near Minsk

The district office of prosecutor has voiced preliminary causes of the accident last Friday when an air balloon crashed on a village near Minsk. Strong wind gusts are blamed for the crash, according to investigators. The balloon was owned by a private person who also worked as an instructor. The balloon's basket was carrying the family of a businessman from Minsk: husband, his girl-friend and her 8-year-old daughter and the pilot instructor.

When the balloon touched on the roofs of houses in the village of Semkava, the girl and the pilot were thrown out of the basket. They were admitted to a local hospital with serious injuries. The businessman and his partner died on the spot when gas bottles exploded during the impact.

Belapan