Colorado Boy Stuck in Hot Air Balloon
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: boy, fort, collins, air, balloon | Themes: The Internet
Authorities in Colorado are currently trying to figure out how to rescue a boy stuck in a hot air balloon over Fort Collins.
When I was younger I did all kinds of stupid stuff I wasn't supposed to. Example: When I was little, my sister and I locked ourselves in the bathroom and flooded it by plugging up all the drains and turning on the taps. My dad had to break the lock on the door to get us out. I thought that was pretty dumb but I think this kid has me beaten by a long shot.
A six-year-old boy messing about in his family's balloon-powered aircraft is airborne over Fort Collins and authorities are still unsure as to how they're going to get him down. MSNBC cites Larimer County Sheriff's Department who said the boy's family had been building an experimental aircraft that had a large helium balloon attached to it. The boy apparently climbed into the aircraft, untied the tethering rope and, well, up, up and away he went. The report goes on to say television news helicopters are tracking the craft, which was last seen floating south of Milliken, about 40 miles north of Denver.
Let's hope they get the little dude down soon. We'll update with more information once this situation is sorted out.
[UPDATE] Reports say the balloon has touched down but there is no sign of the boy, now identified as one Falcon Heene. MSNBC reports that the box attached to the balloon, which Falcon is said to have to have climbed into, was also missing. Authorities are combing the surrounding area for the six-year-old. Separate reports say one of Falcon's brothers saw something fall out of the aircraft shortly after it took off.
[UPDATE2] On a related note, E! Online reports that this family took part in last year's season of Wife Swap and says mum Mayumi and storm scientist Richard take their three children out of school to go on "storm-chasing missions" to prove Richard's theories about magnetic fields and gravity.
[UPDATE3] Calm down everyone, the kid is fine. He was at home the entire time. Falcon was reportedly hiding in his attic because he was afraid of all the commotion he had caused by setting the balloon adrift. Kudos to NegativeX who called it way before the balloon even landed.
"...10 bucks he's not in there and is hiding under the porch because he doesn't want to get in trouble, lol..."
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And why were the parents not watching a 6 year old boy when he was around something that dangerous?
Or does the craft not have a child lock of some sort?
uhhhh..lol nice..this is proof americans are now being born with "stupid"..rofl
He wasnt in it
Or does the craft not have a child lock of some sort?
This too.
Are these parents crazy? Of course a flying balloon that you ride in would be temping to a naive 6 year old!
A 6 year old, of course he doesn't know any better. Where were the parents at?
I'm used to telling my 2 year old "Get down from there!" But, this is ridiculous.
Watching it on our local news here in Boulder, CO and the balloon is down and there is no sign of the kid.
10 bucks he's not in there and is hiding under the porch because he doesn't want to get in trouble, lol...
A 6 year old, of course he doesn't know any better. Where were the parents at?
Probably doing what most parents seem to be doing these days.
Anything but their damn responsibility.
Parenting, duh. Someone else was supposed to be doing that.
HAHAHA! the kid isn't even in the craft! He's probably hiding all scared cuz he un-roped the balloon and he's scared.
HAHAHA! the kid isn't even in the craft! He's probably hiding all scared cuz he un-roped the balloon and he's scared.
I still ask the question, WHERE WERE THE PARENTS?!?!?
At least it looks like the kid didn't have to suffer because of his parents stupidity.
This kid is (should be) in some serious trouble. If I caused all of this attention, I wouldn't be able to sit down for a month.
This kid is (should be) in some serious trouble. If I caused all of this attention, I wouldn't be able to sit down for a month.
While I semi-agree that the kid should be in trouble, he's a six year old. What did you expect him to do? Rather, I think his parents who allowed the entire situation to escalate to this should be to blame.
uhhhh..lol nice..this is proof americans are now being born with "stupid"..rofl
Almost all kids are born with stupid (I was an exception); it's the parents' responsibility to beat it out of them.
This is why I miss having natural selection working on humans.
[1:05PM PDT] The balloon has soft-landed in a grassy field. The balloon is empty. They don't know where the child is.
The thing you all are missing is that since the balloon had a hard time staying aloft without ANY passengers, it would have a pretty much impossible time of it were it to have any weight on board (say, of a 6 year old). He probably climbed in, untied it, and nothing happened. Disappointed, he climbed out and away the balloon went. But please, continue bashing the US over a completely benign event. I am going to remember that the next time those Spaniards let their bulls go, or any one of the other countries do something dumb.
Its been reported that people on the ground saw something fall out of the baloon. Another article (CNN.com) stated the floor was made out of extremely thin plywood and that the boy may have already fallen out (this was before it landed).
I hope he's okay... let's take it easy on the jokes until we know for sure?
The thing you all are missing is that since the balloon had a hard time staying aloft without ANY passengers, it would have a pretty much impossible time of it were it to have any weight on board (say, of a 6 year old). He probably climbed in, untied it, and nothing happened. Disappointed, he climbed out and away the balloon went. But please, continue bashing the US over a completely benign event. I am going to remember that the next time those Spaniards let their bulls go, or any one of the other countries do something dumb.
report sait that it was losing helium, so it could have taken off with him in it and then come back down ass it became less boyant.
Quote from CNN: "Margie Martinez of the Weld County Sheriff's Office said a sibling saw Falcon Heene climb into the basket before the balloon took off from his parents' home."
not only the parents should be a bit more aware of what the kid is doing specially since the balloon wasn't indoors for sure, but also they cant expect me to believe a 6 year old boy was capable to set it off and also untie the rope and climb in it and so on and take off that easily if the thing was actually secured the slightest. Cause if a 6 year old can use it so easily then I guess they should actually promote it through this incident. "If our 6year old did it... You all could" cause yeah noone can be that stupid to not be capable, right? Yet again the parents shouldn't be proud of their intelligence.
@joebob2000
Dude, im not Spanish nor American but I do have to agree that most dumb and ALSO inresponsible incidents do tend to happen in the US. Dont be shy about it.
Um this just in, balloon now on ground level but there is no one is it. Where's the "boy"?
"According to the network's Web site, the Heene family "devote[s] their time to scientific experiments that include looking for extraterrestrials and building a research-gathering flying saucer to send into the eye of the storm."
Now we know why the parents are crazy.
Insane people are insane.
Does helium work well with crysis?
Or, does this helium saucer shaped balloon make my butt look big?
@joebob2000Dude, im not Spanish nor American but I do have to agree that most dumb and ALSO inresponsible incidents do tend to happen in the US. Dont be shy about it.
The most *publicized* incidents happen in the US. The notion that they are any more dumb, or there are any more of them, in the US, is absurd. Making a case with anecdotal evidence is pretty pathetic. I knew a rapist who went by the online nickname of "manos". Shall I have the police come to your house for questioning?
I BLAME THIS ON THE 3D MOVIE UP
You know it really is terrible that this happened but it's been on the news for the past few hours straight. Is this really that much more important than Afghanistan and helthcare? Really people?
So if everybody thinks the kid went up in the balloon but he was not there when it came down.... couldn't that mean he fell/jumped out?
"According to the network's Web site, the Heene family "devote[s] their time to scientific experiments that include looking for extraterrestrials.
Or got abducted by aliens.
That would be bad...very very bad.
You know it really is terrible that this happened but it's been on the news for the past few hours straight. Is this really that much more important than Afghanistan and helthcare? Really people?
It's much more important than Afghanistan - you can actually do something about moronic parents.
Hopefully he fell. Even at age 6 he shouldn't be that stupid.
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