Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Nineteen Indonesian tourists were injured in a hot air balloon crash accident in Aksaray, central Turkey, on Sunday (June 15). The incident involved two tourist balloons that took off from the scenic Ihlara Valley and ended in hard landings at separate locations.
Local authorities reported that one pilot was killed after becoming entangled in a rope, falling from the basket, and being struck by it during the landing.
“Unfortunately, our pilot died after being trapped beneath the basket. The tourists are in good condition and were transported to the hospital by ambulance. They are currently under observation,” Aksaray Governor Mehmet Ali Kumbuzoğlu said, as quoted by Turkiye Today.
One balloon crashed near the village of Gözlukuyu, while the other made a hard landing in the Belisırma area of Güzelyurt district. In the second incident, 12 Indian tourists also sustained minor injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital.
The cause of the crash has not been officially confirmed, but early reports point to a sudden shift in wind direction as a likely factor. A video cited by Economic Times shows a deflated balloon with its basket tilted on the ground as emergency responders attend to the injured.
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Hot air balloon rides are a major tourist attraction in Turkey, especially in Cappadocia, where visitors soar over dramatic landscapes marked by “fairy chimneys”, cone-shaped rock formations formed through millennia of erosion and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Meanwhile the Ihlara Valley where the incident happened is especially popular among travelers, including Indonesians, for its natural beauty and ancient cliff-carved churches that offer a blend of adventure and history.
The incident has cast a shadow over one of Turkey’s most iconic tourist experiences, prompting renewed calls for stricter safety protocols to ensure the well-being of travelers drawn to the region’s stunning landscapes and rich history.
(Raidi/Agung)
