A hot air balloon exploded in Southern California after landing, injuring four people on Saturday.
According to the Associated Press, the Riverside County Fire Department reported that five people were aboard the hot air balloon, still in the gondola, when it exploded after landing in vineyards near Temecula. Four of them were hospitalized – one suffered from severe burns and was taken to a burn center for treatment, two had serious injuries and one escaped with minor injuries. A fifth person was left uninjured.
The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the incident, as they do most aircraft accidents. There is no indication as to what may have caused the explosion as of yet. Names and details of those affected in the explosion were not immediately released.
Reuters reports that the Temecula area, located about 50 miles north of San Diego, often sees the skies full of hot air balloons, as the beautiful wine growing region is popular with tourists.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
