Cass County got to experience the 51st Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Cass County got to experience the 51st Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta race personally when one of the balloons went off course and landed in Atlanta, Texas on Highway 59.

On Tuesday morning, October 10, police and first responders were at the scene in Atlanta. At the time of publication, the Journal-Sun is working on finding out whose balloon landed and will try to get more information on what happened. On the organizer’s website, they announced that they were hosting “a variety of special shape balloons as a part of the world’s premier balloon event.

This year’s event will include 107 special shape balloons representing six countries; 12 of those shapes will make their first Balloon Fiesta appearance.” The race lasts from October 7-15.

This is not the first balloon that went off course. On October 9 a balloon crashed into a power station near Crandall, Texas. “The Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race officials confirmed the balloon belonged to a team taking part in its race, which began on Oct. 7 in Albuquerque.

Poland Team 1’s balloon piloted by Krzysztof Zapart and Piotr Halas crashed into the power station around 7:25 p.m. Thankfully the balloon that landed in Atlanta, appeared to land safely. More information to come.