A hot air balloon in Utah made a big splash on Saturday after it was forced to land in the water. The plane landed safely and no one on board was injured.
The incident occurred during an annual hot air balloon festival in Kanab, a city in southern Utah, just above the Arizona line.
Matt Newey, an NBC-affiliated KSL photojournalist, told the station that he and his girlfriend were looking for an unforgettable experience.
“We took off and then started floating, and there were some balloons in front of us,” Newey said. “It was beautiful – one of the most beautiful views.”
The flight took a turn when they started flying over a reservoir.
“You can feel it. It was as if we had hit this wall of wind and we quickly started to descend and descend, ‘Newey said.
The photojournalist said the circumstances quickly made them realize that they were not going to reach the shore.
The video shows the balloon briefly sinking into the icy waters.
“It tilts and the whole thing starts to fill up with water,” he said.
According to the couple, the pilot immediately jumped into action and leveled the balloon on and off the water.
“I never felt that any of our lives were in danger,” Newey said. “It was just a funny, weird sound.”
The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday no other details are available immediately.
Newey added that the couple, despite the disturbing experience, plan to return next year.
“I would not want to land otherwise,” he said.
