Hot air balloon crash near Las Vegas sends seven passengers to hospital
LAS VEGAS – A hot air balloon crash in Southern Nevada sent several people to the hospital Thursday.
Seven passengers were taken to University Medical Center of Southern Nevada with minor injuries, according to the hospital's administrator, Danita Cohen.
In a Friday email update, she told USA TODAY that three remain in the hospital in fair condition, including one woman who was airlifted with serious injuries.
The crash happened at around 9:25 a.m. PDT in Goodsprings, Nevada, located about 40 miles southwest of Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Federal Aviation Administration will be investigating crash, Ian Gregor, a regional public affairs manager for the Federal Aviation Administration's Pacific Division, told USA TODAY in an email. He added that nine people were on board at the time but cautioned the circumstances that led to the landing are still unknown at this point.
"After the balloon landed hard, the pilot and four passengers were thrown from the gondola," Gregor explained. "The balloon continued bouncing along the ground for approximately a half-mile, during which time the other four passengers were ejected."
A crew from Las Vegas Hot Air Sin City Balloon Rides visited the scene of the crash and declined to speak to reporters. The company also did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
Follow Ed Komenda on Twitter: @ejkomenda. Contributing: Morgan Hines, USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Hot air balloon crash near Las Vegas sends 7 people to hospital
