Was Hovering Over Port Philip Bay In Melbourne, Australia Low On Fuel

A hot air balloon carrying tourists on a sightseeing flight over Port Philip Bay in Melbourne, Australia ran low on fuel on Saturday, and a ditching into the water became more and more likely.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that, according to the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, the balloon was hovering over the water about a third of a mile offshore. The MFB sent a fire boat out to where the balloon was floating just above the water, and passengers began climbing out of the basket onto the deck of the boat.

After lightening his load by offloading the passengers, the pilot was able to once again gain enough altitude to make it to shore, according to the report. The balloon landed safely at Mount Martha.

Pilot Peter Wright had tried to land in a park, but could not clear a light pole and it was full of trees. He tried to climb to find favorable wind to get to a suitable landing site, but luck was not with him ... at least not yet.

Wright said he then called the authorities, and the balloon-to-boat transfer was conducted.

Wright said the passengers were "fabulous, very cooperative and calm" and the transfer went "smoothly."

While the balloon did not run out of fuel, the aircraft had been in the air for about two hours and supplies were "running low."

"I followed our procedures, the worked perfectly," Wright said.

(Image from video posted to YouTube)

FMI: www.mfb.org.au