What happened
On 25 August 2013, a Schroeder G42/24 hot air balloon, registered F-GXTD, was conducting a commercial flight near La Meilleraie-Tillay, France. After approximately 70 minutes of flight, the pilot began a descent toward a field. As the basket reached an altitude of roughly five meters, the aircraft experienced a sudden increase in the rate of descent. Although the pilot activated the double burner to counteract the drop, the maneuver was unsuccessful.
Anticipating a heavy impact, the pilot warned the passengers that the basket would likely be dragged across the ground. Upon impact, the basket slid approximately ten meters before tipping onto its side. During the impact, one passenger was unable to maintain their braced position and collided with another occupant, resulting in one serious injury (a broken left collarbone).