Middletown – Just after 7:00 this morning firefighters and ambulance crews from the Volunteer Hose Company of Middletown, along with Delaware State Police responded to the area of Bethel Church Road and Fairview Avenue for what dispatchers called an unknown aircraft incident. As more information came in crews learned that they were looking for a hot air balloon in distress.
Responding crews could not initially locate the balloon as they were searching nearby power lines and treetops. As the crews searched they were able to pinpoint the location of the balloon and made contact with pilot.
Authorities quickly determined that the balloon was not in distress and that the pilot had landed in the Fairview Farms neighborhood near the C & D Canal.
The pilot, Charles Blair, who operates the A-Rising-Star hot air balloon service was shocked at the response. “I think someone saw the balloon going low and called the police”, said Blair. There were no passengers, Blair was the only person on board this morning.
Residents in the neighborhood said that Blair initially came down near the intersection of Fairview Avenue and W Stonewall Drive. He then walked the balloon down W Stonewall Drive to an open field at the end of the road, said a resident.
Kids from the neighborhood assisted Blair and his chase team in gathering their gear, later posing for photos in the up righted basket.
