Social media video shows safe emergency landing of hot air balloon on Bedford street

The reason for the emergency landing has not been disclosed. The BBAC stated that incidents involving hot air balloons are rare in the UK due to strict licensing requirements for pilots and mandatory safety inspections for balloons. Most incidents are related to landings or environmental factors rather than issues during flight.

A previous serious incident occurred in August 2024 when a hard landing led to a passenger injury after hitting a gas canister. The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) investigated that case.

Globally, hot air balloon accidents remain uncommon but can be severe. In June 2025, a hot air balloon crash in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, Brazil resulted in eight deaths and 13 injuries after a fire broke out inside the basket. According to officer Tiago Luiz Lemos from Praia Grande police station: “according to the pilot, who is one of the survivors, a fire started inside the basket, so he started to lower the balloon, and when the balloon was very close to the ground he told people to jump.” This accident was Brazil’s deadliest hot air balloon disaster and marked the most fatal worldwide since 2016.

Another accident in Sao Paulo involved a balloon carrying 35 people; one person died and authorities arrested the pilot.

Hot air balloons are commonly used for tourism and recreation. In Britain and other countries with regulated aviation sectors, oversight helps reduce risks associated with these flights.