Passenger Ejected From Gondola Following Line Strike

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 1415 EDT: New Mexico state police have identified the victim in Monday's hot air balloon accident in Albuquerque as Rosemary Wooley Phillips, 60.

The California resident fell approximately 60 feet from the tipped gondola of a hot air balloon participating in the city's International Balloon Fiesta, according to KOB-4.

Other passengers in the balloon included pilot Tom Reyes, and three other California women: Sheryl Diaz, 60; Susan Simpson, 57; and Doris Currier, 52. The three were reported to be in satisfactory condition at UNM Hospital; Reyes' condition has not been reported.

As reported earlier Monday, the balloon became stuck on a fiber-optic line near an Albuquerque intersection. Reyes threw a tether down for ground crews to use to attempt to free the balloon, but the tether broke -- causing the balloon to lift off suddenly, tipping the basket in the process.

Monday's accident was the first fatal crash during the annual Fiesta since 1998, when two people were lost and five seriously injured when their balloon came down on Kirtland Air Force Base, south of the city.

Original Reports

UPDATE 1245 EDT: The Associated Press reports one woman was killed Monday morning, when she was ejected from the gondola of a hot air balloon after it struck a fiber-optic line near a busy Albuquerque, NM intersection.

The woman was a passenger on the balloon. The male pilot had thrown a tether line down to waiting ground crews in an attempt to help free the balloon, but the line broke -- sending the balloon hurtling back into the air.

Witnesses say the gondola tipped as the balloon rose, pitching the woman out of the basket.

The pilot's condition, and the identities of those involved, have not been released.

1115 EDT: Local media report a female hot-air balloonist was killed Monday morning, when her balloon came down approximately seven miles south of Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, NM.

According to KOAT-7, crews on the scene report one fatality in the accident, which may have occured when the balloon impacted power lines near the intersection of Montgomery Blvd. and Interstate 25 at approximately 0730 this morning.

Reports of a second passenger onboard the balloon at the time of the accident remain unconfirmed.

KOB-4 reports the balloon initially came down near Montgomery Blvd., and the fatality occurred when the balloon's gondola tipped over. The balloon then became disentangled of the power lines, and floated south/southeast before once again touching down, this time at a constructon site at Comanche Blvd. and Vassar.

As ANN reported, the 36th Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta kicked off Saturday. It is not known whether the balloon involved in this morning's accident was participating in the Fiesta, or if it belongs to one of several operators which offer balloon rides off-site, and are not affiliated with AIBF.

The Montgomery/I-25 corridor, once a wide-open space and a popular landing site for balloonists, has seen rapid commercial and residential development over the past seven years.

FMI: www.balloonfiesta.com