Hot Air Balloon Crash in Central Turkey Kills Pilot, Injures 31 Tourists
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 15
- 2 min read
A tragic hot air balloon accident in central Turkey on Sunday left one pilot dead and 31 tourists injured, including 19 Indonesians and 12 Indians, following two separate crash landings near the scenic Ilhara Valley in Aksaray province.
According to a statement from the Aksaray Governor’s Office, the first incident occurred near the village of Gözlükuyu when the balloon, affected by a sudden change in wind, attempted a hard landing. During the descent, the pilot fell out of the basket and became entangled in a rope. He was pulled beneath the basket and died at the scene.
“Unfortunately, our pilot got stuck under the basket and died,” confirmed Aksaray Governor Mehmet Ali Kumbuzoğlu. Nineteen Indonesian tourists on board the balloon were injured and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. Most of the injuries were not life-threatening.
A second balloon, launched from the same area in the early morning, also made a hard landing, injuring 12 Indian tourists. All were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Emergency services responded quickly to both scenes. Video footage captured one balloon lying deflated with its passenger basket tipped over as medics provided aid to injured tourists.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crashes. Initial reports suggest that shifting wind patterns were a major contributing factor in both accidents.
Hot air ballooning is a renowned attraction in Turkey’s central Anatolian region, especially in the historic Cappadocia area. The region is famous for its otherworldly terrain, including the UNESCO-listed “fairy chimneys”—tall, cone-shaped rock formations created by volcanic activity and natural erosion. Visitors flock from around the globe to view the landscape from the air, particularly during sunrise tours.
Despite the popularity of ballooning in the region, safety concerns have arisen in recent years. In 2022, two Spanish tourists died in a similar accident when their balloon crash-landed during a sightseeing flight over Cappadocia.
Local tourism officials expressed condolences to the pilot’s family and said they are working closely with investigators and safety authorities to determine what went wrong and how future tragedies might be prevented.
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