A tragic incident took place on Sunday in Aksaray, Turkey, when two hot air balloons taking off from the scenic Ihlara Valley crashed near the village of Gözlukuyu. Unfortunately, one of the balloon pilots lost his life, and 31 tourists were reported injured.
According to Aksaray Governor Mehmet Ali Kumbuzoğlu, the pilot got entangled in a rope and fell from the basket. “Sadly, our pilot passed away after being caught under the basket,” the governor stated. “Thankfully, our tourists are in good condition. We transported them to hospitals by ambulance, and their medical checkups are ongoing.”
Among the injured were 19 Indonesian tourists who were onboard one of the balloons. Another balloon, which had also departed from the Ihlara Valley, made a hard landing near Belisırma village in the Güzelyurt district. In this second incident, 12 Indian tourists sustained minor injuries and were also taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Aksaray is known for its beautiful landscapes and hot air balloon tours, making this accident particularly shocking for both locals and visitors. Authorities are continuing their investigations to determine the exact causes of the crashes and to enhance safety measures moving forward.
