Lilydale: Two injured in Picture This Ballooning New Year’s Eve ‘hard landing’

Two people were seriously injured when a hot-air balloon carrying 16 passengers was dragged 30m during a “hard landing” in the Yarra Valley.

A hot-air balloon operated by Picture This Ballooning crash landed near Lilydale on December 31, 2021. Picture: Picture This Ballooning Facebook page.

Authorities are investigating after 16 passengers were dragged 30m and two were seriously injured when a hot-air balloon made a “hard landing” in the Yarra Valley on New Year’s Eve.

It is believed Ringwood-based operator Picture This Ballooning was trying to land in windy conditions when the incident occurred on December 31 at 6.50am.

Sixteen passengers were on board the balloon manufactured by Sydney-based Kavanagh Balloons.

According to a report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the balloon’s pilot was forced to make a hard landing in a field 4km from Lilydale Airport.

The balloon’s basket was dragged about 30m upon landing as the pilot decided to manoeuvre the balloon over fences.

The ATSB stated two of the 16 passengers in the basket suffered serious injuries, which Leader understands were leg fractures that didn’t require attention from paramedics.

The two injured passengers later attended Box Hill hospital for treatment.

Investigators will interview the pilot and witnesses, examine weather data and operator procedures and release its findings in the third quarter of 2022.

“However, should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate safety action can be taken,” the report said.

Picture This Ballooning chief executive Damian Crock said the company had maintainined an “outstanding” safety record for more than 25 years.

Mr Crock and Kavanagh Balloons declined to comment on the incident due to the investigation being underway.