The pilot in January’s fatal hot air balloon crash in Eloy, Arizona, had elevated levels of ketamine in his system, according to an autopsy report released this week. The National Transportation Safety Board had indicated that a problem with the balloon’s envelope may have triggered the crash, but no mechanical anomalies were found. The balloon, operated by Droplyne Hot Air Balloon Rides, took off with 13 occupants, including eight skydivers who jumped out at 5,000 feet. The balloon then partially deflated and began losing altitude, dropping to 4,000 feet before regaining control and then free falling to the ground at 2,000 feet.
The crash resulted in the deaths of the pilot, Cornelius Van Der Walt, as well as three passengers: Chayton Wiescholek, Kaitlynn Bartom, and Atahan Kiliccote. Another passenger was critically injured and taken to the hospital. Van Der Walt had ketamine in his system, a drug described by the Drug Enforcement Administration as a dissociative anesthetic with hallucinogenic effects. Ketamine is commonly used as an anesthetic and nasal spray for depression treatment but can also be abused. The report did not specify why Van Der Walt had the drug in his system, and it was not part of the resuscitation efforts at the crash site. His cause of death was attributed to multiple blunt force trauma, with the manner listed as an accident.
Droplyne Hot Air Balloon Rides, the company founded by Van Der Walt, has not responded to requests for comments on the incident. The crash remains under investigation by authorities, and the exact cause of the envelope problem leading to the crash is still unclear. The NTSB stated that mechanical anomalies were not identified, implying that the issue may have been related to the balloon’s structure or operation. Witnesses of the crash reported seeing the balloon experience a loss of altitude before free-falling to the ground, resulting in the tragic deaths and injuries of the occupants.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of hot air balloon rides and the possible risks associated with the activity. Investigations into the crash will likely focus on determining the factors that contributed to the envelope problem and the subsequent loss of control of the balloon. The presence of ketamine in the pilot’s system adds a layer of complexity to the case, as it raises questions about the pilot’s fitness to operate the balloon at the time of the crash. Further information and analysis will be needed to fully understand the sequence of events leading to the tragic outcome of the hot air balloon excursion.
