Earlier this year, a tragic hot air balloon crash in the Arizona desert claimed the lives of four individuals. The pilot, Cornelius van der Walt, 37, was found to have elevated levels of ketamine in his system, indicating impairment. The medical examiner's report revealed that the amount of ketamine in his blood was enough to be considered impaired for driving, and he did not have a prescription for the drug.
The incident occurred on January 14 when the hot air balloon, carrying 13 adults, experienced an unspecified problem, leading to a crash in a desert area southeast of Phoenix. Eight skydivers had already jumped from the balloon before the issue arose, leaving Van der Walt and four others on board.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a preliminary investigation, which revealed that the balloon was descending with a deflated envelope and thermal damage near the mouth of the envelope. Additionally, the sewn rim tape material at the top of the envelope was frayed, indicating potential structural issues.
Tragically, Van der Walt and three passengers lost their lives in the crash. The passengers were identified as Chayton Wiescholek, 28, of Union City, Michigan; Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, of Andrews, Indiana; and Atahan Kiliccote, 24, of Cupertino, California. One passenger, Valerie Stutterheima, 23, from Scottsdale, Arizona, survived with critical injuries.
The NTSB's investigation into the crash is ongoing and may take over a year to complete its final report. The findings from the investigation will shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the tragic hot air balloon crash in the Arizona desert.
