Terrifying moment hot air balloon crashes back down to earth near Mexican pyramids - leaving at least 12 injured
The red and yellow balloon undertook a 'forced landing' in San Martin de las Piramides - a famous archaeological site - after hitting an air pocket, according to a statement from the civil protection agency for the state of Mexico.
The twelve people who were aboard the balloon were dashed to a local clinic to have their injuries treated, the statement added.
Footage of the incident saw the huge hot air balloon floating down towards the earth before hitting a fence.
The material was seen draped over the railing and power lines along Tuxpan Avenue, a two-lane road just over a thousand feet from the base of the Pyramid of the Moon, as onlookers watched from the pavement in shock.
The civil protection agency added that the balloon was operated by a tour company that offers hot air balloon rides to view the pyramids from the skies.
The Attorney General's Office for the state of Mexico reported that they are investigating a 29-year-old man whom police detained.
It comes after horrifying video captured the tragic moment a man fell to his death after dangling from a hot air balloon on fire in Mexico.
The tragedy occurred on May 11 at the First Balloon Festival in Zacatecas, Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerza, the Secretary General of Zacatecas, confirmed on social media.
The video footage showed the hot air balloon traveling in the air as the bottom half was engulfed in flames.
As smoke billowed from the balloon, a person could be seen dangling on a rope in the sky.
Mugüerza said that a participant 'lost his life' after an 'unfortunate incident' while on board a hot air balloon.
The man died from his injuries and was identified as a 40-year-old man by the name of Luicio N, according to local news outlet Riviera Maya News.
He reportedly was in the balloon with two other individuals when the fire broke out while they were still on the ground.
Luicio reportedly helped the other two passengers escape but was entangled in the rope while the balloon started to move. He was lifted into the air and dangled on the rope before falling.
Although hot air balloons can be dangerous, accidents are rarely fatal. A study from Gitnux cites that the mortality rate is less than 0.01 percent per flight.
Data from Gitnux argued that hot air balloons were safer than other forms of aviation, with roughly 1-2 accidents per 100,000 flights.
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