Hot Air Balloon Crashes into Sky River Casino After Strong Winds
ELK GROVE, Calif. – A hot air balloon crashed into Sky River Casino after strong winds disrupted a tethered display during an event at the Northern California property.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The balloon struck the side of the casino and a nearby power line before crossing Highway 99 and landing safely in a field, with no injuries reported.
Winds Forced Balloon into Free Flight
Elk Grove police said the balloon lifted off from Sky River Casino at around 12:15 p.m. after unexpectedly strong winds affected the display. The balloon had been part of a hotel groundbreaking event at the casino, but the conditions forced the pilot into an unplanned free flight.
Sky River Casino Public Relations Manager Cindy Rodriguez said the pilot chose to launch into free flight “in accordance with safety protocols” because of the heavy winds. The pilot was the only person on board and was not injured.
Witnesses described the balloon struggling overhead as police and a helicopter followed its path. The balloon eventually landed in an open field southeast of Grant Line Road after roughly 20 minutes in the air.
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Federal Agencies Notified After Incident
Authorities said the balloon hit both the casino building and a power line during the incident, though no injuries were reported among guests, staff or the pilot.
Elk Grove police said federal investigators have been notified. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are aware of the crash.
The incident occurred as Sky River Casino continues work on its planned hotel resort expansion, which is expected to add a larger hospitality component to the Elk Grove property.
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