[TexasCajun]

The boy's father, Richard Heene, said the family was tinkering with the balloon earlier in the day and that he scolded Falcon for getting inside a compartment on the craft.

After the balloon floated away, the boy apparently fled to the family's garage, climbing a pole into the rafters and hiding in a cardboard box

Boy found safe after experimental balloon drifts off

If true, how is the incident a hoax? ...intentional deception.

[GoldStandard]

What do you expect the father to say if it was really a hoax? “Yeah, we tricked you guys good with our false police report, ha ha ha”?

[TexasCajun]

After watching the family on the morning news where, last night, Falcon says "I did it for the show", I am highly skeptical.

They just happen to be videoing at the moment the balloon 'accidentally' gets away. ...the hubby is acting all mad and the wife is seen with a big smile, almost laughing as the balloon takes off.

And dad seems all too eager to be in front of as many cameras as possible.