TWO STRIKES, AND YOU’RE OUT! In 2004, a hot-air balloon shaped like Smokey Bear’s face got wrapped around a radio tower during the Albuquerque, New Mexico, hot-air balloon festival, forcing the pilot and two passengers to climb most of the way down the structure. At the 52nd annual event this morning, another balloon hit the same tower with devastating results after the 645-foot guyed tower collapsed.
In 1972, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta began as the highlight of 770 KOB Radio’s 50th anniversary. It broadcast the 13-balloon event’s activities from its two-tower array.
The annual event now features 1,000 balloons in the sky, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators who gather at landing sites all over the city.
KOB, a 50,000-watt station, continued to benefit from the festivities as it broadcasts the event throughout the state for 52 years.
On the seventh day of the fiesta, the 645-foot guyed tower collapsed after this balloon struck a guy wire.
However, an event spokesperson said a hot air balloon clipped one of its transmitting towers’ guy wires this morning. The balloon collapsed the taller of the station’s two structures, erected in 1940 when it hit approximately the two-thirds level of the 645-foot guyed tower after balloons lifted off for day seven of the nine-day event.
Fortunately, according to authorities, there were no fatalities or injuries. Unfortunately, the Cumulus Media-owned station was knocked off the air. Fortunately, it will not have to absorb the expense of erecting a new structure since a subsidiary of Boca-Raton-based Vertical Bridge acquired the tower in 2020.
Representatives of Advanced Tower Services of Albuquerque were on site assessing the damage.
Fire and rescue officials say homes near the tower were evacuated as a precaution while they worked to ensure power was cut to the energized AM tower.
According to videos of the collision, the balloon continued to fly after striking the tower.
The balloon with three people on board landed safely in a field after it struck the tower.
Balloon Fiesta officials say the balloon, identified as the Blue Moon balloon, was flying banner #028 and was piloted by Dan Ewer from Tucson, Arizona.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating, said the Aerostar International Inc. S-57A balloon took off from a park as part of the 52nd annual fiesta.
A balloon hit a power line on the festival’s third day earlier this week, leaving nearly 13,000 customers without power.