What happened
On 15 February 2016, an Ultramagic S.A, N-425 balloon, registered as A6-AAN, was conducting a commercial sightseeing flight near Margham, Dubai. The flight, operated by Sindbad Gulf Balloon LLC, carried 21 people, including one pilot and 20 passengers.
During the landing sequence, the balloon initially made a smooth touchdown on the ground. However, instead of remaining grounded, the balloon climbed back into the air. While the balloon was ascending after this first contact, many passengers attempted to stand up from their designated landing positions. The pilot subsequently instructed the passengers to return to their positions, but the balloon began a continuous and uncontrolled descent. This resulted in a second, much more violent touchdown. The impact caused 14 injuries, including one serious injury involving a dislocated ankle that required surgery.
The investigation
Investigators from the GCAA AAIS examined the flight sequence and the technical state of the aircraft. The probe established that the pilot used the burners to manage the descent rate but likely used them too late in the process, introducing excessive hot air into the envelope. When the pilot deployed the fast deflation system (FDS) to facilitate landing, the system may not have been fully engaged to its maximum deflation capacity, which allowed the balloon to regain lift and climb after the first touchdown.
Furthermore, the investigation looked into the passenger safety protocols. It was found that the pilot had implemented a non-standard "couple landing position" to accommodate limited space in the basket, which deviated from the manufacturer's flight manual and the operator's own safety procedures. The investigation also noted that the pilot's situational awareness may have been compromised by personal distractions.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an uncontrollable balloon condition during the final descent, leading to the hard landing.
- The pilot failed to abort the landing or use the parachute line to recover the balloon after the initial climb following the first touchdown.
- The use of a non-compliant "couple landing position" contributed to the severity of the injuries.
- Passengers had insufficient time to re-adopt proper safety positions before the second impact.
- The pilot's performance was likely affected by personal concerns, leading to a loss of situational awareness.
- The aircraft took off in cloud conditions that were below the minimum requirements set by UAE regulations.
Safety action
Following the investigation, several safety recommendations were issued to the operator and the GCAA. These include requirements to ensure safety briefings are consistent across all manuals, to strictly adhere to manufacturer-approved landing positions, and to implement policies that encourage pilots to report personal issues that might impact flight safety. Additionally, recommendations were made to include specific minimum cloud ceiling requirements in the operator's manuals and to review the regulatory categorization for balloon operators.