Crews Rescue Two From Hot-Air Balloon Entangled on Texas Communications Tower

The balloon hit the tower, leaving the man and woman stranded hundreds of feet in the air

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Firefighters in Longview, Texas rescued two people who were stranded hundreds of feet in the air after their hot-air balloon became entangled on a communications tower. It took rescuers about an hour to climb up to the balloon's basket and secure the pair before they could begin their descent, which took nearly two more hours to reach the ground. Both were taken to a hospital as a precaution.

Why it matters

Hot-air balloon accidents are relatively rare, but can be extremely dangerous when they do occur. This incident highlights the risks involved and the challenges emergency responders face in conducting high-altitude rescues, especially in remote or difficult-to-access areas.

The details

According to officials, the hot-air balloon hit the communications tower, leaving the man and woman stranded more than 900 feet above the ground. Firefighters responded to the scene and it took them about an hour to climb up to the balloon's basket and secure the pair before they could begin their descent. It then took nearly two more hours for the pair to reach the ground safely. Both were transported to a hospital as a precaution, though their exact injuries were not specified.

  • The incident occurred on Saturday.

The players

Longview Fire Department

The fire department that responded to the scene and conducted the rescue operation.

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What’s next

The Federal Aviation Administration has said it will investigate the incident to determine the cause.

The takeaway

This rescue operation highlights the dangers of hot-air balloon accidents and the critical role of emergency responders in conducting high-altitude rescues to save lives.