Incredible second two individuals rescued from scorching air balloon after hanging radio tower in Texas

Two people were rescued from a Texas radio tower after their hot air balloon crashed into the structure.

A man and a woman, who have not been identified, were rescued from the hot air balloon after it crashed at around 8.15am on Saturday. 

The pair were pulled from the basket, which had been swinging from a radio tower, by the Longview Fire Department. 

Just before 9am, firefighters began climbing the 1100-foot tower and by 10am they had reached the travelers, who were stuck at around 920 feet, the fire department said in a release. 

Strong winds caused complications throughout the rescue, which took around four hours and was described as ‘highly technical and time intensive,’ according to the department.

The torn balloon was seen blowing around in the wind while the fabric remained attached to the tower. According to a preliminary FAA briefing, the balloon became entangled in a guy wire. 

The basket that the pair had been waiting in was left dangling from knee-buckling heights.

Footage from the department saw a woman being secured with ropes and given a hard hat before she was helped down from the tower. 

A man and a woman, who have not been identified, were rescued from the hot air balloon after it crashed into a radio tower in Texas at around 8.15am on Saturday

Just before 9am, firefighters began climbing the 1100-foot tower and by 10am they had reached the travelers, who were stuck at around 920 feet

Strong winds caused complications throughout the rescue, which took around four hours and was described as ‘highly technical and time intensive’

The man looked on from still inside the basket before he was helped out. 

Video from the department saw him wearing a yellow hard hat as he was pulled across to the structure in a heart-stopping moment. 

Both occupants sustained no injuries, but were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure. 

‘All members of the rescue team are part of our highly trained Special Operations Unit from Stations 5 and 2, operating in a coordinated technical rescue effort. Longview is in command of the scene and the operational activities,’ the department said. 

Marcus Delaney, a spokesperson for the fire department, told RadioWorld that the KYKX radio station was off air during the rescue, but no damage was done to the tower’s antennas or transmission equipment. 

The rescue required 14 firefighters and 35 fire department members, Delaney told the outlet. 

Delaney added that the team had been aided by Longview Police, Judson Fire, East Mountain Fire, the Gregg and Upshur County Sheriff’s Offices and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Constable Tim Barnett said in a statement on Facebook: ‘Today, I witnessed something that is difficult to put into words. The professionalism, courage, and precision demonstrated by the Longview Fire Department was nothing short of extraordinary.’

 Footage saw both occupants being secured with rope and given hard hats for their descent to the ground far below them

The rescue required 14 firefighters and 35 fire department members and took around four hours

The torn balloon was seen blowing around in the wind while the fabric remained attached to the tower. According to a preliminary FAA briefing, the balloon became entangled in a guy wire

Barnett said that he had been on scene to assist but ‘stood in complete admiration of this team.’

‘These selfless firefighters climbed nearly 1,000 feet into the sky to safely rescue two victims who had crashed into an 1,100-foot tower. 

‘Their training, teamwork, and commitment to excellence were evident in every step of the operation.’

The constable said the department executed the rescue ‘flawlessly.’ 

Stephen Winchell, a Longview Special Operations member, told KLTV that the incident was one they had been training for, but never at such height. 

‘We have literally talked about this one, and briefed and talked about what would happen if a hot air balloon got stuck in a tree or a power line but we just didn’t expect both of those scenarios to get combined today, to one very tall rescue,’ Winchell said. 

‘If it had been people that were injured or not as capable as they, we would’ve had to climb out to the basket and that would’ve added a significant degree of difficulty.’