A toxicology report released recently revealed that a hot air balloon pilot involved in a fatal crash in Arizona had an elevated level of an anesthetic in his system at the time of the incident. The pilot, identified as a 37-year-old male, was found to have a high amount of ketamine content in his blood when the balloon plummeted about 2,000 feet to the ground in January.
Ketamine, a rapid-acting general anesthetic known for its hallucinogenic effects, was detected in the pilot's system. However, it remains unclear if ketamine played a significant role in the crash that claimed the lives of four individuals.
An autopsy report from the Pinal County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that the pilot died from multiple blunt force trauma, with the manner of death ruled as an accident. Investigators suspect that a problem with the balloon itself may have contributed to the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration's preliminary report indicated that the hot air balloon had a deflated envelope and showed signs of damage near the top, with frayed material observed in the sewn rim tape.
Thirteen individuals were on board the hot air balloon when it took off on the morning of January 14. Eight of them were skydivers who exited the gondola before the crash occurred in Eloy, Arizona.
Tragically, the crash resulted in the deaths of the pilot and three passengers, while one survivor sustained critical injuries. The deceased passengers were identified as a 28-year-old from Indiana, a 28-year-old from Michigan, and a 24-year-old from California.
The pilot, who was also the founder of a hot air balloon rides company operating in Arizona and Utah, had a perfect safety record prior to the incident. Drug testing is not mandatory for commercial balloon pilots, although medical certificates are required.
This incident comes after a similar tragedy in New Mexico in June 2021, where a hot air balloon crash caused by a pilot under the influence of drugs resulted in the deaths of all five individuals on board. The National Transportation Safety Board attributed the crash to the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient clearance from power lines during landing.
