Home / Disasters and Accidents / Vegas Balloon Ride Ends in Fiery Crash, Injuries
Vegas Balloon Ride Ends in Fiery Crash, Injuries
23 Jun
Summary
- A hot air balloon crash near Las Vegas resulted in severe injuries.
- A family's first balloon ride turned tragic with a hard landing and fire.
- Multiple passengers suffered burns and blunt force trauma in the incident.
A celebratory hot air balloon ride for a Mississippi family visiting Las Vegas on June 18, 2026, ended in a serious crash. The flight with Vegas Balloon Rides experienced a hard landing approximately 6:30 a.m. local time in the Stewart Valley, west of Pahrump.
Ten individuals were aboard when a strong gust of wind caused the balloon to bounce upon landing, tipping the basket over. This violent movement ignited the gas actuator, sparking a fire. Occupants fell on top of each other during the crash.
One passenger sustained a severe head injury, while others suffered second- and third-degree burns and blunt force trauma. The family's wife, Elizabeth, reportedly sustained broken bones in her nose and sternum, along with back and neck fractures, remaining hospitalized as of June 21, 2026.
Without cell service, the injured and uninjured passengers alerted authorities via text and drove themselves to a hospital. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident.
