Fort Collins boy in loose aircraft (6 yr old boy found hiding at home not in balloon)

Denver Post ^ | October 15, 2009 | Kieran Nicholson

[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)

[frogjerk]

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.

That's what I was thinking. Maybe a Coast Guard or Army Chopper.

[txhurl]

It’ll work. Especially with little kids. He’ll fall asleep but his body will continue to work just fine until they snatch him.

[New Yawk Minute]

I am watching this thing on the link that was posted. My God..that poor kid. They are saying that it would be dangerous to try to do anything to get him down..and it could last 8 more hours. All they can do is follow it.

[balch3]

http://www.pararescue.com/

[pillut48]

Falcon (?) Heene (heeney) is the boy’s name, just released.

[Blue State Insurgent]

Jiffy-Pop anyone?

[Palladin]

I am in tears! May God be merciful to this innocent child.

[BuckeyeTexan]

They believe the balloon has extended to its maximum height and will not go any higher. There are conflicting reports that it is at 2K or 6K feet.

[dead]

This is a rescue only James Bond or a young William Shatner could pull off.

Inspector Gadget is another possibility, but he's not real.

[potlatch]

[That is no hot air ballon!]

No, there’s no basket hanging under it that I can see. One side is collapsing, wonder if it will start to descend soon?
And ‘slowly’ I pray!

[Abigail Adams]

Looks like it’s traveling pretty fast!

[spectre]

Thanks..

[NCC-1701]

How big is this balloon? Why not try this. Get some netting, like cargo nets, hook them together, use a couple of helicopters to go up and drape the nets over the balloon, then use the choppers to bring it down. Sounds radical but it’s better than nothing at this point.

Hope the kid makes it through this.

[r9etb]

He’s probably having the ride of his life, as he was helping build it, and knew exactly what it would do...

Yeah, except he's 6, and almost certainly didn't think through the whole deal.

By now, I think he's probably more than a little scared.

[Red_Devil 232]

This expert on FNC says it is as high as it will go. I guess if it does not hit a thermal up draft!

[Candor7]

They need a team of Navy Seals parachutists to get him out. They are the only ones who could do it.

Choppers cannot get close enough.

[Abigail Adams]

Are you saying it’s heading away from the mountains? If so, that’s good news.

[Erik Latranyi]

There is a cable hanging off the balloon that could be caught by a skydiver or something else.

[theDentist]

MY guess is that he air will cool and then balloon will begin to descend on it’s own... depends on ho wfast the air in the balloon cools. Other issue is if it gets high enough, epoxia (lack of oxygen) could be a problem... he could fall asleep, he could open the hatch and step out....

[SE Mom]

Per FOX- search is underway in area just in case he isn’t in the balloon - or whatever it is..

This is simply unbelievable...