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Luxor hot air balloon crash kills 18 tourists Luxor hot air balloon crash kills 19 tourists
(about 2 hours later)
Eighteen tourists, including two Britons, have been killed in a hot air balloon crash near the Egyptian city of Luxor, officials say. Nineteen tourists, including three Britons, have been killed in a hot air balloon crash near the Egyptian city of Luxor, officials say.
Two other Britons are believed to have survived after the balloon exploded on Tuesday morning and plunged into a sugar cane field west of Luxor, which is 320 miles (510km) south of the capital, Cairo. The balloon is believed to have caught fire and exploded on Tuesday morning, plunging into a sugar cane field (video) west of Luxor, which is 320 miles (510km) south of the capital, Cairo.
Witnesses described seeing people leaping out of the balloon as it was on fire. The casualties included British, French, Belgian, Hungarian and Japanese nationals and nine tourists from Hong Kong, the Luxor governor, Ezzat Saad, told reporters.Witnesses described seeing people leaping out of the balloon as it was on fire. The casualties included British, French, Belgian, Hungarian and Japanese nationals and nine tourists from Hong Kong, the Luxor governor, Ezzat Saad, told reporters.
A spokesman for the British tour operator Thomas Cook said: "We are working closely with the Foreign Office and the authorities in Egypt and we can confirm that two of our guests are in local hospitals, but tragically two of our guests have died in the hot air balloon incident in Luxor, Egypt, this morning." Tour operator Thomas Cook said two Britons had died and two were taken to hospital. It later said that one of the Britons taken to hospital had died. An Egyptian is also believed to be in hospital, having survived the crash.
Three survivors of the crash, two tourists and one Egyptian, were taken to hospital.
An Egyptian security official said initial reports of 19 deaths were revised to 18 amid confusion in the aftermath of the accident (video).
A spokesman for the British Foreign Office said: "We are aware of reports of a balloon crash in Luxor and are making urgent inquiries."A spokesman for the British Foreign Office said: "We are aware of reports of a balloon crash in Luxor and are making urgent inquiries."
Cherry Tohamy, an Egyptian living in Kuwait who was on holiday in Luxor, told the BBC her balloon was landing when she heard an explosion and saw flames from a balloon above.Cherry Tohamy, an Egyptian living in Kuwait who was on holiday in Luxor, told the BBC her balloon was landing when she heard an explosion and saw flames from a balloon above.
"Our pilot told us that the balloon had hit a high pressure electrical cable and a cylinder on board exploded," she said. "People were jumping out of the balloon from about the height of a seven-storey building.""Our pilot told us that the balloon had hit a high pressure electrical cable and a cylinder on board exploded," she said. "People were jumping out of the balloon from about the height of a seven-storey building."
Alaa Mahmoud, sales manager of Magic Horizon, a Luxor-based balloon company, said his nephew witnessed the crash from a neighbouring field. He told the Guardian the accident happened as the balloon tried to land and was about 5-10 metres above the ground.Alaa Mahmoud, sales manager of Magic Horizon, a Luxor-based balloon company, said his nephew witnessed the crash from a neighbouring field. He told the Guardian the accident happened as the balloon tried to land and was about 5-10 metres above the ground.
Mahmoud said that as ground crews tried to anchor the balloon to the ground using ropes hanging from the basket, the ropes became entangled in the leads of the gas cylinders. The sharpness of the ropes, he claimed, caused the leads to be severed, which in turn sparked the fire.Mahmoud said that as ground crews tried to anchor the balloon to the ground using ropes hanging from the basket, the ropes became entangled in the leads of the gas cylinders. The sharpness of the ropes, he claimed, caused the leads to be severed, which in turn sparked the fire.
At this low height, Mahmoud said, the pilot and one passenger jumped from the basket, causing it to lose balance.At this low height, Mahmoud said, the pilot and one passenger jumped from the basket, causing it to lose balance.
"The flames were so strong that the pilot and one guy jumped," he said. "When they jumped, the balloon lost balance and the balloon went up again.""The flames were so strong that the pilot and one guy jumped," he said. "When they jumped, the balloon lost balance and the balloon went up again."
The American photographer Christopher Michel was in another balloon, taking aerial shots, when the crash happened. He told the BBC: "We flew over the ancient ruins. Just before landing in the cornfields, I heard an explosion and saw smoke. I think it was the balloon behind mine. I wasn't sure what had happened at first. It was only when we landed we heard the full extent of what happened."The American photographer Christopher Michel was in another balloon, taking aerial shots, when the crash happened. He told the BBC: "We flew over the ancient ruins. Just before landing in the cornfields, I heard an explosion and saw smoke. I think it was the balloon behind mine. I wasn't sure what had happened at first. It was only when we landed we heard the full extent of what happened."
Konny Matthews, assistant manager of Luxor's Al Moudira hotel, said she heard a "huge bang" several kilometres from the hotel at around 7am (5am GMT). "Some of my employees said that their homes were shaking," she said.Konny Matthews, assistant manager of Luxor's Al Moudira hotel, said she heard a "huge bang" several kilometres from the hotel at around 7am (5am GMT). "Some of my employees said that their homes were shaking," she said.
Luxor, which stands on the banks of the river Nile and on the site of the ancient city of Thebes, is a major destination for tourists visiting its many remains and monuments. But Egypt's tourism industry has suffered amid the political instability that has rocked the country since the beginning of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak as president in 2011.Luxor, which stands on the banks of the river Nile and on the site of the ancient city of Thebes, is a major destination for tourists visiting its many remains and monuments. But Egypt's tourism industry has suffered amid the political instability that has rocked the country since the beginning of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak as president in 2011.
Balloon trips, usually at sunrise over the Karnak and Luxor temples as well as the Valley of the Kings, are popular with visitors.Balloon trips, usually at sunrise over the Karnak and Luxor temples as well as the Valley of the Kings, are popular with visitors.
In April 2009, 16 people were hurt, including two British women, when a balloon crashed during a tour of Luxor. The balloon was believed to have hit a mobile phone transmission tower near the banks of the Nile. After the crash, early morning hot air balloon flights over the Valley of the Kings were suspended for six months while safety measures were tightened up.In April 2009, 16 people were hurt, including two British women, when a balloon crashed during a tour of Luxor. The balloon was believed to have hit a mobile phone transmission tower near the banks of the Nile. After the crash, early morning hot air balloon flights over the Valley of the Kings were suspended for six months while safety measures were tightened up.