Hot air balloon hits power lines near Armstrong, seven on board uninjured

Feb 1, 2019 | 3:47 PM

ARMSTRONG, B.C. — The Transportation Safety Board will be investigating after a hot air balloon with seven people on board, collided with power lines south of Armstrong.

The balloon was in the air as part of the Vernon Winter Carnival Hot Air Balloon Festival.

RCMP Constable Kelly Brett says the incident happened along Highway 97A around 10 Friday morning.

“Initial stages of the investigation show that the balloon may have encountered an updraft from wind that forced the balloon to strike a rock face of a hill just adjacent to the highway causing it then to collide with power lines,” says Brett.