Fatal balloon crash could have been averted
A fatal hot air balloon crash in Turkey could have been averted, according to a coroner.
At the inquest of British space scientist Kevin Beurle, 53, the coroner said he believed he would not have been killed if the balloons had taken off further apart or with a bigger time gap.
Dr Beurle died when the balloon touched the basket of one above it.
The pilot and nine other passengers were hurt, including Dr Beurle’s partner.
A total of 33 tourists took off in three hot air balloons within two or three minutes of each other in Cappadocia in May 2009.
An air accident report later said the collision was probably caused by "a result of sudden changes in meteorological conditions after take-off".
As criminal proceedings are underway against two pilots, the coroner was only able to record an accidental death verdict.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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