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Gas leak caused 2013 Egypt balloon crash: report

by Staff Writers Cairo (AFP) Jan 07, 2014 AFP

A fiery hot air balloon crash in Egypt last year that killed 19 tourists was probably caused by a gas leak, an official Egyptian report released on Tuesday said.

The accident took place on the morning February 26, soon after the balloon lifted off in the southern city of Luxor.

A fact-finding committee found the "likely cause was a gas leak in the upper section of the hose... near the burner", the report said.

The leak sparked a blaze that spread throughout the balloon, it said.

The tourists, from Britain, France, Hong Kong, Hungary and Japan, died when the balloon plummeted to the ground after catching fire.

The pilot and one tourist survived by jumping from the balloon, officials said at the time.

In 2009, 13 foreign tourists were injured at Luxor when their hot air balloon hit a communications mast and crashed. Sources at the time said the balloon was overcrowded.

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