LJUBLJANA - Slovenia said Saturday it has identified the four people killed in Thursday's hot-air balloon crash as Slovenian citizens, among them a couple with their 11-year-old child.
"The fourth person killed was a woman, also from Slovenia," Joze Balazic, head of Slovenia's forensic institute, said Saturday.
The identification had to be carried out using the DNA of the victims since their bodies were found charred in the basket of the hot-air balloon that crashed and burst into flames near Ljubljana early on Thursday.
The accident happened when a sudden change in the weather forced the pilot of the balloon with 32 people on board, mostly tourists, to attempt an emergency landing.
Due to its size and the strong winds blowing close to the surface, the pilot lost control of the balloon, which hit a tree and caught fire, according to eye witnesses.
Out of the 28 persons who were hospitalised on Thursday, six remain in critical condition, among them the pilot of the balloon, hospital authorities said late on Friday.
Slovenian police have launched an investigation to determine whether there were irregularities concerning the flight organised by a private company selling balloon flights to tourists.
Local media reported the pilot did not have a valid flying license and that he decided to take off although the weather forecast indicated possible storms. Police have not yet confirmed the reports.
Sunday 26 August 2012
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