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Vermont State Police (VSP) identified the pilot as Brian Boland, 72, of Post Mills, Vermont.
The hot air balloon took off late Thursday afternoon with four passengers and Boland on board. “Some time later,” it came down and touched the ground, VSP said. The basket overturned and one of the four passengers fell, but was not injured.
As the basket tipped, Boland “became entangled in the equipment attached to the balloon as it was raised,” police said. Boland became “trapped under the basket, where he eventually fell to the ground from a height”.
Boland landed in a field and was pronounced dead on the spot, VSP said.
The balloon continued to travel north for “about 1.5 miles,” police said, before crossing state lines and becoming entangled in trees in Piermont, New Hampshire.
The remaining three passengers were able to descend safely and none were injured, VSP said.
Boland was “one of the most experienced pilots in the world” who “set many world records, won national championships and flew all over the world,” the website says.
“Brian will be missed, but we don’t mourn our aeronaut friends because we all got up to kiss the sunrise and float on the breath of God,” Willbanks wrote. “Peace to all of Brian’s family and friends. Fine wind and soft landing my friend.”
The NTSB and the FAA are investigating the crash.
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