Balloon accident in Cappadocia: Pilot explains how 5 passengers fell out of the basket

The statement of Egyptian pilot Moustafa Mohamed Amin Khelidy, who was arrested after the balloon accident in Cappadocia in which 2 tourists lost their lives, was shared. Blaming the tourists, the pilot told how the terrible incident had happened.

The accident happened 3 days ago in the morning in the Kavak resort. The balloon belonging to a private company, which took off from the Zelve Ruins of Avanos district, made a hard landing in the Killik region due to the wind. Spanish citizens Maria Christiana Baltrons and Dolors Masana, 2 of the tourists in the balloon, lost their lives, Josefa Franco Gil, Lourdes Beltran Sole and Maria Mercedes Rier were injured.

Following report was shared: “Among the injured, Josefa Franco Gil, treated at the Private Versa Hospital, is in intensive care, while Lourdes Beltran Sole at the Private Cappadocia Hospital and Maria Mercedes Rier at Nevsehir State Hospital continue their treatment in the normal service.” The bodies of dead tourists will be sent to their countries by air.

The pilot has been working in Cappadocia for 10 years

It was learned that balloon pilot Khelidy who was arrested after the incident, is married and has been piloting balloons in Cappadocia for about 10 years.

In his statement Khelidy said, “We took off from Zelve Ruins at 07.25 in the morning with 28 passengers. At the end of the journey, which lasted about 1.5 hours, we landed in the Kilik region. I made the necessary warnings to the passengers before landing with the balloon. I told them to follow the landing position rule. 5 passengers fell out of the basket because they did not comply with the landing position rule. Unfortunately, they could not take the landing position.”

Khelidy’s lawyer is said to be appealing the detention. It was reported that other female tourists who participated in the same tour with the 2 people who lost their lives followed all safety rules.