Tourists die after hot-air balloons collide

Two tourists died and 23 others were injured when two hot air balloons collided in mid-air during a sightseeing tour in Turkey, causing one to crash.

An ascending balloon struck another’s wicker basket above it, causing a tear that sent it plunging to the ground, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The passengers on board the balloon that crashed were mostly tourists from Asia, Spain and Brazil. Many had fractures and one of them, an elderly passenger, was in a serious condition.

The balloons were flying above scenic canyons and volcanic cones of the Cappadocia region, a popular tourist destination 190 miles from the capital, Ankara. Cappadocia is famed for its “fairy chimney” volcanic cones and its subterranean cities carved out of soft stone.

It was the second fatal accident in Cappadocia since balloon sightseeing tours were launched there more than a decade ago. In 2009, a British tourist died when two balloons also collided mid-air.

In February, a balloon caught fire and crashed in Egypt, killing 19 tourists.