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Dozens of teams were in the sky at a hot air balloon meeting in Rhineland-Palatinate in 2013 (symbol image)
Photo: Birgit Reichert / dpa
Five people were injured in the emergency landing of a hot air balloon in the Hessian town of Schlitz on Friday evening.
According to initial findings, the balloon was caught in a gust of wind, collapsed at a height of 400 meters and fell to the ground, the police said.
Two people were seriously injured and three others were slightly injured.
According to the police, two couples from the Bad Hersfeld area were on board with the pilot from Fulda.
During the crash landing, a 43-year-old passenger was dragged several meters above the ground outside the basket and was seriously injured.
Her 44-year-old husband had previously fallen out of the balloon and was also seriously injured.
Another couple and the 65-year-old pilot were slightly injured, according to the police.
A helicopter was also used during the rescue operation, it said.
The vehicle had previously started in the Niederaula area.
In order to clarify the cause of the accident, the hot air balloon is now being checked by experts from the Federal Office for Aircraft Accident Investigations.
wbr / dpa