SHOCKING footage shows the moment a hot air balloon crashed into a primary school during one of the world’s biggest festival.
The balloon was flying alongside hundreds of others on the first day of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.
SWNSA hot air balloon hitting the roof of Oasis Academy Connaught in Bristol[/caption]
SWNSIt was spotted flying too low before colliding[/caption]
SWNSBut it managed to right itself in the end[/caption]
Video showed the balloon at dangerously low heights before hitting the roof of Oasis Academy Connaught in Bristol, close to the scheduled landing site at 7.11am.
The balloon basket was seen tipping as they tried to get back into the air and it “looked like the people were going to fall out”, said a witness.
But thankfully the balloon was able to recover and rise again up and over the roof of the school.
Resident Stephanie, 22, a lash technician, who captured the moment said: “I thought ‘that one is looking a bit low’ and pressed record.
“The basket was tilting – it looked like they were going to fall out.
“It must have been scary.”
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta attracts hundreds of thousands of people and is the largest hot air balloon festival in Europe.
There were cheers this morning as green smoke blew to announce the decision to release the first of five planned ascents of balloons.
The balloons are heading eastwards and south eastwards over the city towards Keynsham and Hanham.
The free event takes place from Friday August 8 to Sunday 10, with flights scheduled at 6am and 6pm.
Visitors can also enjoy night-glows and entertainment at the site.
It’s the 47th year of the festival in the city which attracts pilots from all over the world and includes hundreds of different shaped balloons.
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