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Fort Collins boy in loose aircraft (6 yr old boy found hiding at home not in balloon)
Denver Post ^
| October 15, 2009
| Kieran Nicholson
Posted on 10/15/2009 11:45:55 AM PDT by Arec Barrwin
Rescuers are tracking and chasing a "homemade flying saucer" that is in flight with a 6-year-old, by himself, on board.
The incident started this morning in Fort Collins when the boy got into the balloon-like device, which was built by an adult, and it came loose from a tether, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.
The contraption could rise as high as 10,000 feet, the sheriff's office said.
The home-made flying saucer was last seen in flight over Weld County.
The sheriff's office is working the Federal Aviation Administration to determine how to best get the boy down.
The homemade airplane was tethered in Fort Collins when the boy got onboard and it floated away. (Lisa Ecklund via 9News)
The six-year-old boy was by himself on board the hommade aircraft. (Courtesy Lisa Ecklund, via 9News)
The craft could fly as high as 10,000 feet, according to the Weld County Sheriff's Office. (Lisa Ecklund via 9News)
TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: balloon; balloonboy; denver; faa; falconheene; jiffypop; missing
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To: Arec Barrwin
OMG..this is an impossible situation..Prayers needed!
2
posted on
10/15/2009 11:46:42 AM PDT
by
spectre
To: Arec Barrwin
To: Arec Barrwin
oh boy, hope this turns out well.
4
posted on
10/15/2009 11:47:11 AM PDT
by
driftdiver
(I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
To: Arec Barrwin
Oh that poor baby! He must be freezing! Prayers!
To: driftdiver
I don;'t know how? They're not even sure if the poor kid fell out or not?
sw
6
posted on
10/15/2009 11:48:13 AM PDT
by
spectre
To: Arec Barrwin
7
posted on
10/15/2009 11:48:13 AM PDT
by
ohioWfan
(Proud Mom of a Bronze Star recipient!)
To: wombtotomb
Praying for that poor boy right now.
8
posted on
10/15/2009 11:48:19 AM PDT
by
Lorica
To: Arec Barrwin
To: Arec Barrwin
They’re clearing air space over Denver International now. The balloon is at 2K ft.
10
posted on
10/15/2009 11:49:54 AM PDT
by
BuckeyeTexan
(Integrity, Character, Leadership, and Loyalty matter - Be an example, no matter the cost.)
To: Arec Barrwin
11
posted on
10/15/2009 11:50:10 AM PDT
by
BGHater
("real price of every thing ... is the toil and trouble of acquiring it")
To: wombtotomb
Actually it’s close to 70 around Denver today.
12
posted on
10/15/2009 11:50:16 AM PDT
by
Joiseydude
(I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees. Live free or die.)
To: Joiseydude
not 10,000 feet up.......
To: Arec Barrwin
14
posted on
10/15/2009 11:50:40 AM PDT
by
theDentist
(fybo; qwerty ergo typo : i type, therefore i misspelll)
To: Arec Barrwin
Oh God - please place a hedgeof protection around this child. Help authorities find a way to get this little boy down safely.
This is awful to watch knowing there is a terrified child inside. This balloon is going sooooo fast.
15
posted on
10/15/2009 11:50:42 AM PDT
by
ninergold3
("Has it ever occurred to you that nothing occurs to God?" -Mark Lowry)
To: Arec Barrwin; a fool in paradise
I hope they’ll send a helicopter to rescue him!
To: Arec Barrwin
OMG. Is anyone watching this live going on? Holy cow. Prayers going up.
17
posted on
10/15/2009 11:51:09 AM PDT
by
GoCards
("We eat therefore we hunt...")
To: Slings and Arrows
18
posted on
10/15/2009 11:51:12 AM PDT
by
Jet Jaguar
(A mob of one.)
To: RushIsMyTeddyBear
“Toto, I don’t think we’re in Denver any more”.
At 6 years old I hope that he will have enough sense to not try to do anything. It it was a two year old I could see them trying to crawl out. Hopefully the winds are running their typical easterly direction and takes him out over the plains for a soft landing in an open field.
Wow - prayers for this child and his family. (And especially the husband that probably built the crazy thing.)
19
posted on
10/15/2009 11:51:16 AM PDT
by
21twelve
(Drive Reality out with a pitchfork if you want , it always comes back.)
To: driftdiver
My prayers are with this little boy, but I don't know how they will get him down before he freezes to death. At 10K it is very cold, and not enough O2. Can't use a helicopter since it would tip over the device.
Perhaps drop a skydiver onto it? The extra weight of the skydiver would bring it down slowly. It would be virtually suicidal, but better than letting the poor kid freeze to death.
20
posted on
10/15/2009 11:51:22 AM PDT
by
GonzoGOP
(There are millions of paranoid people in the world, and they are all out to get me.)
To: spectre
Brother said he saw the little guy crawl in but they are doing a ground search in case he ran and hid after setting the balloon loose...
21
posted on
10/15/2009 11:51:41 AM PDT
by
ninergold3
("Has it ever occurred to you that nothing occurs to God?" -Mark Lowry)
To: Arec Barrwin
Someone PLEASE...give us hope as to how this poor kid can be rescued..
22
posted on
10/15/2009 11:51:46 AM PDT
by
spectre
To: Arec Barrwin
Watching on the news right now. Sigh... I don’t think this will end well.
23
posted on
10/15/2009 11:52:26 AM PDT
by
Drew68
To: Arec Barrwin
Oh my...Lord, help this little boy!
24
posted on
10/15/2009 11:52:34 AM PDT
by
LadyPilgrim
((Lifted up was He to die; It is finished was His cry; Hallelujah what a Savior!!!!!! ))
To: wombtotomb
Not even close to being at 10,000 feet, more like 2,000
25
posted on
10/15/2009 11:52:46 AM PDT
by
Joiseydude
(I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees. Live free or die.)
To: BuckeyeTexan
The weather is about 70 degrees in Denver today so they’re not as concerned about the temperature. There are conflicting reports about whether the balloon is made of mylar or charged foil. They are unable to communicate with the boy inside at this point.
26
posted on
10/15/2009 11:53:31 AM PDT
by
BuckeyeTexan
(Integrity, Character, Leadership, and Loyalty matter - Be an example, no matter the cost.)
To: GonzoGOP
Prayers, prayers, for this child...
27
posted on
10/15/2009 11:53:44 AM PDT
by
Judith Anne
(Drill in the USA and offshore USA!! Drill NOW and build more refineries!!!! Defund the EPA!)
To: 21twelve
They send paratroopers to fall on the balloon, grab him and parachute him down.
Even if the cold shocks him into ‘death’, he can be resuscitated.
28
posted on
10/15/2009 11:53:58 AM PDT
by
txhurl
(It's only a matter of time before FreeRepublic has this fraud's scalp on our lodge pole.)
To: Joiseydude
" Actually it’s close to 70 around Denver today. " and real windy in my neck of the woods.
A blustery day in Pooh corner !
29
posted on
10/15/2009 11:54:27 AM PDT
by
JMJJR
( Newspeak is the official language of Oceania)
To: BuckeyeTexan
I’ve never watched anything more upsetting than this...
30
posted on
10/15/2009 11:54:29 AM PDT
by
spectre
(spectdre's wife)
To: Drew68
Right now all they can do is follow the dang thing. Damn Damn Damn - I feel like throwing up right now. Thankfully he is only 2K feet up and has oxygen and is warm(er).
31
posted on
10/15/2009 11:54:32 AM PDT
by
ninergold3
("Has it ever occurred to you that nothing occurs to God?" -Mark Lowry)
To: Joiseydude
didn’t have any context for height, story mentioned it could go up to 10000 feet. Still gotta be chilly up there if he was dressed for 70 degrees. Hope to God he is ok. This has gotta be one for the books.
To: driftdiver
If this kids makes it, he will be the most popular in school tommorrow.
With God's grace, he'll be the first man on Mars.
33
posted on
10/15/2009 11:55:44 AM PDT
by
DCBryan1
( Arm Pilots&Teachers. Build the Wall. Export Illegals. Profile Muslims. Execute child molesters RFN!)
To: txhurl
34
posted on
10/15/2009 11:55:59 AM PDT
by
spectre
(spectre's wife)
To: Revolting cat!
I hope they’ll send a helicopter to rescue him!
LOL...you're mean!
To: BuckeyeTexan
Area news stations are tracking the balloon with helicopters but they are afraid to get to close to him because the helicopter may disrupt the air currents. The FAA is working with skydivers to develop a plan.
36
posted on
10/15/2009 11:57:07 AM PDT
by
BuckeyeTexan
(Integrity, Character, Leadership, and Loyalty matter - Be an example, no matter the cost.)
To: Arec Barrwin
I suppose "JUMP! JUMP!" would be inappropriate. If the kid stays in the balloon, he should be fine. If the 'authorities' don't screw the pooch.
/johnny
37
posted on
10/15/2009 11:57:18 AM PDT
by
JRandomFreeper
(God Bless us all, each, and every one.)
To: GonzoGOP
‘It would be virtually suicidal, but better than letting the poor kid freeze to death”
Who would you ask to do that?
its at 2k and not 10k. Plenty of oxygen at either one.
38
posted on
10/15/2009 11:57:53 AM PDT
by
driftdiver
(I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
To: BuckeyeTexan
The balloon is travelling at 25 mph and has reached 6000 ft.
39
posted on
10/15/2009 11:58:08 AM PDT
by
BuckeyeTexan
(Integrity, Character, Leadership, and Loyalty matter - Be an example, no matter the cost.)
To: Revolting cat!
I hope they’ll send a helicopter to rescue him! I suspect that they can't really get a helicopter close enough to do any good because of the turbulence it would create. Only a hot air balloon seems possible to me; and even that is problematical. I'm not sure what the rescue balloon could do one it got near the kid. (Maybe lob sandbags into his gondola and follow him down?)
ML/NJ
40
posted on
10/15/2009 11:58:10 AM PDT
by
ml/nj
To: BuckeyeTexan
How many times have a rescue like this been attempted? Never?? Nobody has ever trained for a situation like this so it’s going to be risky no matter what.
41
posted on
10/15/2009 11:59:11 AM PDT
by
ninergold3
("Has it ever occurred to you that nothing occurs to God?" -Mark Lowry)
To: ml/nj
To: Arec Barrwin
To: GonzoGOP
Purchase a clue. I'm at 7K feet right now. There's plenty of O2 and it's nice and warm. I can ride the 6 wheeler for a couple of hours and be at 10K feet, and I'll still be fine.
/johnny
44
posted on
10/15/2009 12:00:05 PM PDT
by
JRandomFreeper
(God Bless us all, each, and every one.)
To: ml/nj
poking holes in the balloon may be an option. Slow release of whatever its using for lift would do the trick.
45
posted on
10/15/2009 12:00:25 PM PDT
by
driftdiver
(I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
To: Arec Barrwin
I wonder if they could shoot holes in it to release the gas slowly.
46
posted on
10/15/2009 12:00:25 PM PDT
by
Lurkina.n.Learnin
(Waste and fraud are synonymous with gov't spending)
To: Jet Jaguar; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; martin_fierro; ...
Wow.
47
posted on
10/15/2009 12:00:53 PM PDT
by
Slings and Arrows
("When France chides you for appeasement, you know you're scraping bottom." --Charles Krauthammer)
To: driftdiver
Original post said 10k, and it is cold that is the real problem. If it is at 2K then it is probably safer to just wait until it comes down due to normal gas seepage.
Note that the skydiver wouldn't have been in danger, but if he tipped it over when he made contact the kid might fall out. The Skydiver would have had a backup parachute. But again not an issue if they are only at 2k.
48
posted on
10/15/2009 12:01:34 PM PDT
by
GonzoGOP
(There are millions of paranoid people in the world, and they are all out to get me.)
To: mainepatsfan
I keep praying that the little guy freaked out when the thing started coming loose and hid.
49
posted on
10/15/2009 12:01:43 PM PDT
by
ninergold3
("Has it ever occurred to you that nothing occurs to God?" -Mark Lowry)
To: ml/nj
Can’t be heavy. Use a helicopter with a long cable. hook the thing to control where it goes. Cut it open to deflate and land it.
50
posted on
10/15/2009 12:01:45 PM PDT
by
driftdiver
(I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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