On April 10, 2022, a hot air balloon carrying a pilot and ten passengers crashed in Earls Colne, Essex, after colliding with low-level power cables, resulting in two injuries. The pilot, who had 332 hours of experience, failed to see a second set of wires during landing, which caused the balloon’s basket to become electrically live and led to one passenger receiving an electric shock. Firefighters responded to extinguish the fire and provide aid, with the injured passenger treated for minor burns and a sprained ankle. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch reported that the pilot evacuated the passengers safely but could not warn them about the shock risk in time.
