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)

[ninergold3]

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...

[spectre]

Someone PLEASE...give us hope as to how this poor kid can be rescued..

[Drew68]

Watching on the news right now. Sigh... I don’t think this will end well.

[LadyPilgrim]

Oh my...Lord, help this little boy!

[Joiseydude]

Not even close to being at 10,000 feet, more like 2,000

[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.

[Judith Anne]

Prayers, prayers, for this child...

[txhurl]

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.

[JMJJR]

" Actually it’s close to 70 around Denver today. "

and real windy in my neck of the woods.

A blustery day in Pooh corner !

[spectre]

I’ve never watched anything more upsetting than this...

[ninergold3]

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).

[wombtotomb]

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.

[DCBryan1]

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.

[spectre]

Sounds good...

[Since 2009-07-21]

I hope they’ll send a helicopter to rescue him!

LOL...you're mean!

[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.

[JRandomFreeper]

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

[driftdiver]

‘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.

[BuckeyeTexan]

The balloon is travelling at 25 mph and has reached 6000 ft.

[ml/nj]

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