19 tourists die after horror balloon crash in Egypt

Nineteen tourists died following a horror balloon crash in Egypt — thought to be the biggest of its kind in history.

The UK foreign office confirmed that two British nationals and one British resident died when the balloon plunged to the ground in flames. A fourth Briton survived and is being treated at a hospital in Cairo.

One Egyptian was also killed, health minister Mohammed Mostafa Hamed said, listing the other victims as tourists from Japan, China, France, and Hungary.

The Japanese embassy in Cairo said it believed four Japanese had been aboard and had sent staff to Luxor to confirm this. France’s foreign ministry said two of its citizens had been killed.

The pilot survived by jumping from the basket when it was 10m-15m from the ground, said Ahmed Aboud, head of an association representing Luxor balloon operators.

Witnesses told how the balloon exploded into flames before crashing into sugar cane fields as it travelled over the Valley of the Kings near Luxor.

Two of those caught up in the tragedy were named by neighbours as Michael Rennie, 49, and wife Yvonne, from Perth, Scotland.

It is not yet clear if the couple are among the 19 fatalities.

Next-door neighbour Linda Kettles said: “They were very, very nice people who kept themselves to themselves.

“They’ve gone on holiday to enjoy themselves. “They were really looking forward to getting away.

“I’m totally devastated by the news. I really feel for their families.”

The four Britons were on holiday in Luxor with tour operator Thomas Cook.

The fourth Briton and the Egyptian pilot, who is also in hospital, are the only survivors of the crash.

Authorities in Luxor, where there have been previous balloon crashes, suspended all balloon flights and an investigation is under way.

Tourism official Ahmed Aboud said early in the day that the accident was caused by a mid-air explosion in the hose between the balloon’s burner and its gas canister.

Wael el-Maadawi, the civil aviation minister, said a committee from the ministry was heading to Luxor to investigate.

“We cannot say whether this was because of maintenance or human (error) until the investigation committee is completely done with its investigation,” he told Al-Jazeera.

Cherry Tohamy, an Egyptian living in Kuwait who was on holiday in Luxor, was in another balloon which was landing when she heard an explosion and saw flames from a balloon above.

She said: “Our pilot told us that the balloon had hit a high pressure electrical cable and a cylinder on board exploded.

“People were jumping out of the balloon from about the height of a seven-storey building.”

She said ambulances were at the scene within 15 minutes.

Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion before seeing plumes of smoke as the balloon caught fire.