What happened
On Friday, May 30, 2025, around 08:30 local time, a Cameron Z210 hot air balloon registered as F-HRGC operated by Montgolfières du Périgord completed a commercial sightseeing flight near Saint-Cyprien. The aircraft carried the pilot and nine passengers. After approximately one hour of flight, the pilot initiated descent onto a field selected for landing, which was also used by three other balloons participating in the same operation.
The touchdown was firm, causing the basket to bounce twice while remaining upright. Following the landing, eight passengers exited the basket unaided. One passenger reported pain in her ankle and required assistance from the pilot and ground crew to disembark by tilting the basket. The injured passenger contacted emergency medical services shortly after the event. Although she was initially directed to a general practitioner who prescribed an X-ray, the fracture was not confirmed until imaging was performed two days later.
The investigation
The BEA reviewed statements from the pilot and the injured passenger, along with meteorological data. Météo-France reported light winds of 2 knots, clear skies (CAVOK), and a temperature of 18°C during the incident. The pilot, who held a hot-air balloon pilot licence and had extensive experience with similar aircraft, stated that he had briefed passengers on safety positions before landing. He described making two slight climbs to position the balloon correctly before increasing the sink rate to land before a nearby road.
The injured passenger, aged 55, stated she had followed the recommended safety position by bending her knees during the descent. She perceived the landing as a significant fall and felt immediate compression in her foot. The investigation noted that while the pilot checked footwear during the pre-flight briefing, the passenger believed no specific safety briefing occurred immediately prior to the landing phase.
Findings
The BEA established that the injury resulted from a firm landing involving multiple bounces. Despite the occupants adopting the recommended safety positions, the dynamic nature of the impact exceeded the physical capabilities of one passenger, leading to an ankle fracture. The investigation highlighted that balloon landings can be more dynamic than the rest of the flight, often surprising passengers who may not fully anticipate the forces involved.