Virgin Balloon breaks 11k Volt cables in Cumbria

Eye witnesses described a flash and a loud bang moments before the Virgin Balloon flight was forced to make an emergency landing in a Cumbrian field.

The flight took off from Ulverston, Cumbria, UK at about 5.15pm on Friday, carrying 16 passengers.

As it prepared to land 60 minutes later, the balloon clipped the power lines causing them to spark and then snap.

One of the passengers, Paul Moxon, sent a Tweet saying.

Balloon flight in Cumbria this evening. Fantastic! lncluding, landing through and snapping two11,000 volt power lines.

The experienced pilot was able to land the balloon in a “normal controlled landing”, but passengers – who travel from across Cumbria and Lancashire to experience the flight – were left shaken.

Jeff Hembrow, from Preston, told a local newspaper: “The man from the electricity company told us that we didn’t know just how close we had come to death.”

Electricity North West said that the incident left more than 400 properties in the Levens area without power. The majority had their electricity restored by 11.30pm.

A spokeswoman for Virgin Balloon Flights confirmed the incident took place.

“Unlike other forms of aviation, balloons travel in the direction of the wind and do not have designated places to land, but are permitted to use open spaces and grassed areas,” she explained.

“Unfortunately, the balloon made slight contact with local power lines. The pilot then proceeded to land all passengers safely without further incident.”