Deeman3
10-15-2009, 02:49 PM
FORT COLLINS. Colo. - A family's runaway experimental balloon aircraft crash-landed in a field Thursday after floating away from home for about two hours, but there was no sign of a 6-year-old boy authorities thought had been inside.
The captivating scene played out live on television. The balloon rotated slowly in the wind, tipping precariously at times during its journey, before coming down in a field in Weld County, more than 40 miles away from where it began its journey.
Deputies rushed to the scene but found no sign of the boy, identified as Falcon Heene. Authorities feverishly began searching for the child on the ground, including in the neighborhood where he lives.
The boy's family had been building a helium-balloon aircraft that was kept tethered in the backyard of their home. The aircraft, which resembled a flying saucer, was approximately 20 feet by 5 feet.
On Thursday morning, Falcon was playing outside with one of his two older brothers when the older boy saw the younger one go into a compartment at the bottom of the balloon and fly away, said Cathy Davis of the Larimer County Sheriff's Department.
The craft somehow became untethered and the balloon took off.
Flying saucer?
Several people in the neighborhood saw the aircraft floating over their homes, and some snapped pictures.
The captivating scene played out live on television. The balloon rotated slowly in the wind, tipping precariously at times during its journey, before coming down in a field in Weld County, more than 40 miles away from where it began its journey.
Deputies rushed to the scene but found no sign of the boy, identified as Falcon Heene. Authorities feverishly began searching for the child on the ground, including in the neighborhood where he lives.
The boy's family had been building a helium-balloon aircraft that was kept tethered in the backyard of their home. The aircraft, which resembled a flying saucer, was approximately 20 feet by 5 feet.
On Thursday morning, Falcon was playing outside with one of his two older brothers when the older boy saw the younger one go into a compartment at the bottom of the balloon and fly away, said Cathy Davis of the Larimer County Sheriff's Department.
The craft somehow became untethered and the balloon took off.
Flying saucer?
Several people in the neighborhood saw the aircraft floating over their homes, and some snapped pictures.