19 killed as hot air balloon explodes, plummets in Egypt
(CNN) -- At least 19 tourists were killed when a hot air balloon exploded and fell from the sky in southern Egypt, state-run media reported.
A total of 21 people were
in the balloon when it plummeted about 300 meters (almost 1,000 feet)
in the city of Luxor, EgyNews said. Two people were hospitalized.
A gas explosion caused the crash, EgyNews said.
Balloon rides offering
scenic aerial views of the Nile River and the ancient temples of Karnak
and Hatshepsut are a popular tourist attraction in Luxor, about nine
hours' drive southeast of Cairo.
Passengers in the balloon
included 19 foreign tourists: nine from Hong Kong, four from Japan,
three from Britain, two from France and one from Hungary, officials
said.
An Egyptian pilot and another Egyptian were also on board, Luxor province spokesman Badawi al-Masri
said.
The catastrophe may be the deadliest hot air balloon accident in history.
In 1989, 13 people were killed when two hot air balloons collided in Australia.
