WHEN you are given the gift of a scenic hot air balloon ride, you are probably expecting a relaxing and memorable time.
It was certainly memorable for 16 passengers last Saturday morning when their balloon came crashing down on a paddock near York.
The balloon took off from Northam with favourable wind conditions.
Throughout the course of the journey, increased winds became an issue with the pilot originally intending to land the balloon on a large paddock.
When that window of opportunity closed, the pilot raised the balloon further into the sky.
A house and a small paddock then came into view, with the balloon clipping a tree on their descent.
The passengers prepared for impact with a brace position, with the pilot remaining standing controlling the equipment.
Passenger Joanne Muller from Karratha said the pilot was calm during the incident.
"He just said 'alright crew, let's get ready to brace, we're going to land'," she said.
"There was no panic in his voice and I take my hat off to him – he was very professional."
Upon impact, the basket bounced twice on the ground with passengers falling backwards to the side which was hit.
The basket dragged along the ground for about 20-30 metres before coming to a complete stop.
At this point, the pilot fell out of the basket.
The other side of the ridge contained trees and rocks, making the small paddock the last possible landing position for the group of 16 people.
Upon the basket coming to a complete stop, passengers noticed the pilot located further away in the paddock.
Ms Muller said she ran over to the pilot to assist.
"We had a nurse on board as well, so the pilot was lucky in that regard," she said.
"My husband made the balloon safe by turning off the gas, getting a fire extinguisher out as well while I attended to the patient."
The owner of the York property had called for an ambulance upon witnessing the balloon come down in his paddock.
A rescue helicopter was sent to pick up the pilot, a man aged in his 40s, after he sustained head injuries.
He was taken to the Royal Perth Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Police said air safety authorities would investigate the incident.
