Hot Air Balloon Carrying At Least 16 People Crashes In Texas, Likely No Survivors

LOCKHART, Texas (CBSNewYork/AP) —  Authorities say it is likely there are no survivors after a hot air balloon carrying at least 16 people caught on fire and crashed in Central Texas.

The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Saturday that investigators are determining the number of victims and their identities.

Lynn Lunsford with the Federal Aviation Administration said in an earlier statement that the accident happened shortly after 7:40 a.m. Saturday near Lockhart, Texas, when the hot air balloon crashed into a pasture. Lunsford said there were at least 16 people on board.

Lunsford said that the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are on the scene to investigate.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says in a statement that he and the first lady are extending their condolences following the crash, CBS2's Omar Villa-Franca reported.

Abbott said in a statement Saturday that he and his wife, Cecilia Abbott, "extend our deepest condolences'' for those affected'' by the "heartbreaking tragedy.''

Abbott says he and his wife's thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as the Lockhart community. He says, "The investigation into the cause of this tragic accident will continue, and I ask all of Texas to join us in praying for those lost.''

The site of the crash appears to be directly under large power lines. The land near the crash site is mostly farmland, with corn crops and grazing cattle. Cutting through that farmland is a row of massive, high-capacity transmission lines, and the site of the crash appears to be right below the overhead lines.

A woman who lives near the site where a hot air balloon crashed in Central Texas says she saw a giant fireball.

Margaret Wiley, who lives about a quarter-mile from the site and has an unobstructed view, told The Associated Press that she was letting her dog out Saturday morning when she heard a :pop, pop, pop.''

She said, "I looked around and it was like a fireball going up.''

As she described it, the fireball was about four stories high, almost high enough to reach the bottom of the power lines. Wiley said that she called 911. She added that the weather seemed clear and that she often sees hot air balloons in the area.

Lockhart is about 30 miles south of Austin.

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