ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A hot air balloon carrying 17 people crashed into a retention pond Monday morning near Walt Disney World, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
One person was injured in the crash, which was reported near State Road 429 at Western Way, Orange County Fire Rescue said. The victim was not seriously injured, officials said.
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A pilot and sixteen passengers, including some children, were aboard the balloon, which is operated by Orlando Balloon Rides, authorities said.
"The pilot had to make an emergency landing (because of an issue with the wind)," FHP spokeswoman Kim Montes said. "He attempted to land in a field off the Turnpike, but ended up in a retention pond."
"It was scary. It was really scary," a passenger told WKMG-TV. "A lot of people were screaming. My girlfriend went underneath it, so I just had to throw my phone away and get her safe. Her dad took care of the little boy."
The basket was in the water, and most of the deflated balloon was draped across the grass near the southbound lanes of SR 429.
Orlando Balloon Rides will remove the balloon, the FHP said.