Man dies after falling from hot air balloon in West Sussex; police say he bought the flight himself
A 33-year-old man from Watford died after reportedly climbing out of a hot air balloon during a passenger flight, with police saying the incident is not suspicious.
A man who climbed out of a hot air balloon and plunged to his death bought the flight himself, police said. The 33-year-old, said to be from Watford, fell near Newpound Common, Wisborough Green, West Sussex, at about 9:20 a.m. Friday. A four-hour search involving drones, officers and dogs uncovered the body in a field. Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious and that the man has not yet been formally identified. He was part of a group of 16 passengers and a pilot on a commercial balloon flight from Billingshurst to Dunsfold, the force indicated.
The incident was captured on the flight video and provided to police as part of the investigation. Jon Rudoni, chairman of the Commercial Ballooning Association, said the association had been informed of a serious incident on a commercial passenger flight and that the event appears to involve a passenger taking their own life by climbing out of the basket while the balloon was aloft. The video of the flight has been submitted to authorities as investigators work through what happened.
Detective Sergeant Elaine Keating of West Sussex Police said the force’s thoughts were with the man’s family and everyone on the flight, and that specialists were available to assist those affected. She added that the man’s death is not being treated as suspicious and that officers are conducting an investigation on behalf of the coroner. The man’s identity has not yet been released publicly, and his family has been informed.
Officials with West Sussex Police said they would provide further comment as the inquiry continues. The investigation will address how the events unfolded during the flight and whether any safety protocols were followed, with the coroner’s inquest expected to determine a cause of death. In the meantime, authorities have emphasized the need to support those on board and to review any immediate safety considerations arising from this incident. The broader ballooning community has expressed condolences to the family and pledged to cooperate with investigators as more details emerge.