GhLinks Media
Four people including Atahan Kiliccote and Chayton Wiescholek died after a hot air balloon operated by Droplyne Hot Air Balloon Rides crashed on Sunday.
Chayton Wieschole was 28 and from Union City, Michigan while Atahan Kiliccote was 24 and from Cupertino, California, police said.
The pilot, 37-year-old Cornelius Van Der Walt, was also killed, police said.
The Eloy hot air balloon crash
On Sunday at approximately 7:50 a.m. in the desert area of Sunshine Boulevard and Hanna Road in Eloy, about 65 miles south of Phoenix, a hot air balloon crash left four people dead and one critically injured, according to Eloy Police Department.
Police said the balloon was operated by Droplyne Hot Air Balloons and carried 13 passengers at the time of take-off.
Eight of them were skydivers who all completed skydiving before any issues with the hot air balloon were evident.
Three passengers and the pilot died, while another passenger was critically injured.
The woman who was critically injured was identified by police as a 23-year-old from Scottsdale.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives in this tragic incident,” the Eloy Police Department said in a statement.
The Police Department said it was actively collaborating with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the incident.
