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Hot air balloon crashes in Sacramento, pilot injured

Posted at 10:45 AM, Aug 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-11 13:45:09-04

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A person has been injured in California after a hot air balloon caught on fire and crashed.

The Sacramento Bee reported Saturday that the hot air balloon crashed Saturday at a Galt festival injuring the pilot, who was the only person on board.

Officials say it was the beginning of the annual two-day Hot Air Balloon Festival in Galt, just 30 miles south of Sacramento.

Authorities say the balloon that was tethered to the floor for people to explore began malfunctioning around 8:40 a.m.

Officials say the balloon caught on fire, became untethered, went up in the sky and crashed down in a nearby field.

Authorities say they started an investigation and it is unclear what caused the fire and malfunction.