According to Monique Hoogslag from the Royal Dutch Association for Aviation (KNVVL), the vessel had taken off from Joure around 8 p.m. An hour later a suitable landing site was sought.
When the balloon was almost on the ground, according to Hooglag at a “neat” fall speed, the “forward speed” increased enormously due to a sudden gust of wind.
In the balloon shipping of the KNMI, used by pilots to estimate the weather conditions, according to the regional broadcaster, it was already warned of powerful gusts of wind.
Observations of the KNMI station in Marknesse confirm that. Around the time of the landing, the gusts of wind were observed up to 17 knots. That is a lot for a hot air balloon.
“Weather and temperature can certainly influence. We just have to investigate that well,” says the spokesperson for the Security Region about how things could go wrong. The heat does not have to play a determining role. “With heat, balloons rise more often. An investigation must provide answers,” he concludes.