Man was seriously injured getting out of hot air balloon

A man seriously injured when he fell while getting out of a hot air balloon had been asked by the pilot to help the ground crew, an air accident investigation has found.

The hot air balloon basket in which a passenger was seriously injured when his foot got stuck in the steps while climbing out at Hargham Hall, near Attleborough. Picture: AAIB - Credit: AAIB

The man was one of 16 passengers on an early morning balloon flight on May 12 that landed at Hargham Hall, near Attleborough.

A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch found he was one of four passengers asked by the balloon commander to get out and help ground crew hold the line while the balloon deflated. However as he climbed out of the basket his foot became stuck and he fell suffering a serious injury.

The report states: "Passenger assistance for the deflation was not essential on this occasion but was offered to the passengers as part of the ballooning experience."

Following the accident, the balloon operator, who is not named in the report, has changed its procedures to enable ground crew to assist all passengers as they disembark.

The AAIB report also records an accident where a gyroplane ran off the runway during landing at Beccles Airfield on July 21, and Piper light aircraft landing short of the runaway at Shipdham Airfield on July 26.