2 US balloonists go missing

2010-09-29 16:45

London – Organisers of a long-running balloon race said they have lost contact with two US pilots over the Adriatic Sea and are very concerned.

The 54th Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race said Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer Davis were last detected flying between Italy and Croatia earlier on Wednesday and have not been heard from in at least six hours.

Race director Don Cameron described the weather over the Adriatic as quite poor, with reports of thunderstorms. He said Italian and Croatian officials had been notified.

The race, which kicked off on Saturday in the British city of Bristol, has a simple goal – to see who can fly the furthest on a maximum of about 1 000m³ of gas.

- SAPA