Four people killed in air-balloon accident near Eloy, Arizona

Modified Date: 
Mon, 04/08/2024 - 2:22pm
Accident Date: 
Sunday, January 14, 2024

4 dead, 1 critically injured in hot air balloon crash in Arizona

An NTSB spokesperson said that “the preliminary information is that the balloon impacted desert terrain following an unspecified problem with its envelope.”

Fort Wayne woman dies in Arizona hot air balloon crash, 3 others dead

While there has been no official identification, CBS affiliate KPHO in Phoenix reports one of the victims is 28-year-old Katie Bartrom of Fort Wayne.

Bay Area man among victims in Arizona hot air balloon crash

The balloon was operated by Droplyne Hot Air Ballon Rides and was carrying 13 people when it took off, including eight skydivers, according to the Eloy Police Department. The skydiving, police said, was "intentional," and was successfully completed before any issues with the balloon surfaced.

Hot air balloon pilot had high level of ketamine in his system during crash that killed 4, toxicology report finds

Cornelius van der Walt, the 37-year-old pilot of the balloon, had ketamine levels of between 1.1 to 1.2 mg/L in his system, according to toxicology testing from the FAA and from NMS Labs.

Ketamine in system of hot air balloon pilot involved in fatal crash was from resuscitation attempts, updated report says

The autopsy report initially said Cornelius van der Walt, 37, had no reported prescription for ketamine, and the drug was not used during resuscitation attempts. But the report was revised on April 5 to indicate ketamine was indeed administered during lifesaving measures.

People Involved: 
Atahan Kiliccote
Katie Bartrom
Chayton Wiescholek
Cornelius Van Der Walt
Valerie Stutterheim
City: 
Eloy, AZ