Balloon Lands Near Homes

A hot air balloon made an emergency landing next to a Fairbanks Ranch home Sunday.

[RamaFan]

As a balloon pilot...that doesn't look like an emergency landing of any kind. The pictures showing them 'trying to control the balloon' just look like regular deflation operations to me. We've had excitable people call the police and 911 when we land as well and it's quite a hassle, honestly. Balloon's don't land or take off at airports, normally. We don't choose our landing spots before a flight, only when we are about to land. I've landed on streets, in neighborhoods, and even in driveways.

[35 yr balloon pilot]

My God, does anyone bother to get facts before they publish any more? Perfectly safe, low wind landing is an EMERGENCY? Heck, if you are desperate for viewers, how about "Daring pilot cheats death in fiery landing"? Has a ring, and a lot more truth in it. How about Licensed pilot makes gentle landing? A lot of local media outlets have a small list of balloon pilots they can call for facts on matters like this, facts and background are sometimes good things to have, you can sound awfully stupid with out them.

[Wyndygal]

As a balloon pilot this looks like a perfectly normal and not out of usual landing situation. It seems that as soon as people see a balloon landing the reaction is "Emergency"!! A balloon has to land eventually and any place can be a good place. Reactions like this one give the sport a bad name and the there are few real accidents, so let's try to get the story right before printing it, ok?