Erika Gonazales pictured the balloon 20 minutes before the crash pic Facebook

16 dead as Texas hot air balloon crashes

Erika Gonazales pictured the balloon 20 minutes before the crash pic Facebook
Erika Gonazales pictured the balloon 20 minutes before the crash pic Facebook

A hot air balloon, belonged to the Heart of Texas Balloon Rides, has caught fire and crashed at 7:40 (12:40 GMT), in fields near Lockhart about 30 miles (50km) south of the state capital Austin. Caldwell County Sheriff Daniel Law said the basket of the balloon was on fire when emergency crew arrived. It is the deadliest hot air balloon crash in the US. Witnesses saw a big fireball go up.

The balloon’s pilot Skip Nichols is among those who died in the crash.