What happened
On May 1, 2025, a commercial passenger hot air balloon flight, operating a Kubicek BB 9SB, was conducting a landing maneuver near Tongeren – Borgloon. The flight had departed from Ordingen, Sint-Truiden, carrying one pilot and 16 passengers. As the pilot attempted to land in a grass field behind a fruit orchard, the aircraft struck a wooden pole located within the orchard.
The impact caused the basket to pivot clockwise and subsequently brush against a fruit tree, which acted to decelerate the balloon. During this sudden movement, the momentum caused several passengers to shift within the basket. One passenger sustained serious injuries, including broken ribs and a fractured collarbone, while another suffered an ear injury requiring surgery.