DHAKA: A hot air balloon burst into flames and crashed in Virginia on Friday night, prompting a search for the wreckage and the three people believed to be on board.

The incident happened over Doswell, 25 miles north of Richmond, said Kathleen Bergen, spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Preliminary information indicates the balloon struck a power line and then caught fire, according to Bergen.

The balloon had taken off with two others that landed safely, said Corinne Geller, spokeswoman for the state police. But when the third balloon was on approach to land, it burst into flames.

Witnesses reported hearing two explosions, and the gondola separated from the balloon, which soared upward, Geller said.

It crashed somewhere northeast of Meadow Event Park, Geller said. Images from the scene show one balloon well above the ground, with its basket in flames.

Hours later, authorities had not located it. Nor did they know the condition of the one pilot and two passengers believed aboard, according to Geller.

There was no rain at the time, though severe storms rolling through could complicate the search, Geller said.

The incident came one day before the scheduled start of the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Balloon Festival, which is set to run through the weekend. On its website, the event's organizers invite people to "get up close and personal with 20 hot air balloon teams from across the country."

Source: CNN

BDST: 1108 HRS, MAY 10, 2014