Five people were killed after a hot air balloon crashed into a power line in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Saturday morning.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a Cameron 0-120 hot air balloon struck the power lines about 6 miles west of the Albuquerque International Sunport airport and caught fire.
Albuquerque police responded to the incident around 7 a.m.
"Unfortunately, 4 individuals died as a result of their wounds from the hot air balloon crash," the police department said in a tweet early Saturday morning. "One additional individual was transported to a local hospital and is currently in critical and unstable condition."
On Saturday afternoon, Albuquerque police said that the man who had been "transported to the hospital succumbed to his wounds."
"Our prayers go out to the friends and family of all five people who tragically lost their lives," police tweeted on Saturday afternoon.
The male adult who was transported to the hospital succumbed to his wounds. Our prayers go out to the friends and family of all five people who tragically lost their lives.
— Albuquerque Police Department (@ABQPOLICE) June 26, 2021
Three of the victims are men and two others are women, according to authorities. While their names have not been released, Albuquerque Fire Rescue officials said Saturday afternoon in a statement that "one of the deceased male patients was the pilot of the balloon."
Police estimated the age range of the victims to be between 40 and 60 years old, NBC affiliate KOB of Albuquerque reported.
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As a result of the crash, power is out in the area near Central Avenue and Unser Boulevard, police said.
Unfortunately, 4 individuals died as a result of their wounds from the hot air balloon crash. One additional individual was transported to a local hospital and is currently in critical and unstable condition. @PNMtalk is on scene as power is still out in the area.
— Albuquerque Police Department (@ABQPOLICE) June 26, 2021
PNM, the largest electricity provider in New Mexico, said at least 13,777 power customers in the area have no electricity as a result of the crash.
A Twitter user from New Mexico said Saturday that he saw the hot air balloon falling from the sky "with no basket" after losing power in his home.
Power went out first. Looked out my window saw it falling with no basket. Horrible. pic.twitter.com/5m5jWUpsmC
— KarMaWorKs JT 🇺🇸 USA (@KJT8899) June 26, 2021
"Power went out first," he tweeted alongside a video he took from his window. "Looked out my window saw it falling with no basket. Horrible."
The cause of the incident was unknown Saturday afternoon. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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