

Seventeen people avoid injury after two hot air balloons crash land in Melbourne

Seventeen passengers on board two hot air balloons have narrowly escaped injury in two separate crash landings in Melbourne this morning.
One balloon landed near Eastlink at Wantirna South while the other was at Terrara Road, Vermont South, just before 8am.
Vermont South woman Christine Taylor said she was in bed when she heard a large crack in her backyard.
"It was the scariest thing. I thought it was an earthquake or a big gum tree coming down and then, bang, this thing hit and the balloon was all over our fence and into our pool," Ms Taylor said.
The balloon barely missed two homes as it crash landed near a field. (9news)
Nine people were on board the balloon that landed at Wantirna South and another eight people were on board the balloon at Vermont South.
"No one was injured in either incident," Ambulance Victoria said in a statement.
A CFA spokeswoman said the hot air balloon that landed at Wantirna South didn't crash but landed at the wrong spot in a paddock.


Both flights encountered trouble after a change in wind direction and speed just over an hour after takeoff from Bundoora at dawn, bound for Moorabbin airport.
Hot air ballon down at Terrara Park in Vermont South. (Twitter)
Commercial Hot Air Ballooning Industry spokesman Damian Crook said both events were "minor" and the pilots, who each have been flying about 20 years and have outstanding safety records, landed safely.
"The pilots chose safe landing sites and both flights have been concluded without injury," he said.
Mr Crook said one balloon landed in an open reserve at Vermont and conducted a "drag landing", a typical manoeuvre when there is significant ground wind speed.
The other balloon landed in a horticultural property, causing minor tree damage, he said.
Mr Crook said passengers are routinely briefed on safety before the flight and before landing, with balloon baskets designed to handle such incidents.
With AAP

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