Five Women Rescued, Two Men Still Missing

A balloon carrying seven people has reportedly gone down in the Pacific ocean off the coast of Peru. Five women were rescued from the water, but two men, including the pilot, are still missing.

The accident occurred Sunday on a sightseeing flight. The balloon was operated by Globos Peru SAC, which was cited by Peru's Interior Minister for failing to provide floatation devices or equip the aircraft with a GPS tracking device, according to a report appearing in the U.K. newspaper The Daily Mirror.

The Associated Press reports that Peruvian authorities say the balloon was blown off course. The flight had been planned to drift along the coast, but the aircraft was pushed out to sea. The Peruvian navy, air force, and other authorities searched the area much of the day Sunday by air, boat, and personal watercraft, but the two men could not be located.

Authorities said that the women likely survived by staying with the hot-air balloon's basket, which floated. None of the people on board was reportedly wearing a personal floatation device.

FMI: www.peru.travel/en