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)

[TornadoAlley3]

Well, we had photos of Neda didn't we, where is the boy?

[SE Mom]

Actually- the 3 pm hour could NOT be worse on cable- your choice of Rich Sanchez, David Schuster or Shep Smith.

Blech.

[They'reGone2000]

The Heene family from Colorado live life on the edge. Wife Mayumi (43) and storm scientist Richard (45) take their three kids, Bradford (8), Ryo (7) and Falcon (5), out of school to go on storm chasing missions to prove Richard's theories about magnetic fields and gravity. If conditions are right, Mayumi wakes her family by shouting "Storm Approaching, Storm Approaching!" into a bullhorn. The family sleep in their clothes so they can leap out of bed and into the storm-mobile. Richard calls Mayumi his 'ninja wife'; she maintains equipment, drives the storm-mobile, films tornadoes and waits with the kids while Richard jumps on his motorbike, heads into the eye of the storm and launches rockets to measure magnetic forces. At home the family are as chaotic as a twister: the kids have no table manners and throw themselves around the house, and while Richard devotes every moment to his research, he expects Mayumi to cook, clean and run the house without any help.

http://abc.go.com/shows/wife-swap/episode-guide/heenemartel/132697

[potlatch]

Yeah, I knew that but gave a quick reply, lol.

“He didn’t get in by osmosis.....!”

[Lady Jag]

Dunno. Many times currents got it spinning, too. I’m just reporting what I heard.

Looking over the video of it flying, I do see a seam-like thing in the gondola. Definitely saw the door flapping on the ground.

[Jewbacca]

I think the kid jumped early on and is dead.

And it breaks my heart.

[AUJenn]

OLTL was a yawn today (I think) ;)

It’s my break during lunchtime (I work from home) most days.

[fullchroma]

More info here: http://franksfunnies.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/richard-heene-on-wife-swap/

[SE Mom]

Correction noted- thanks:)

[DCBryan1]

Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?!

[crusty old prospector]

Yep, they probably laughed when they saw the size of the balloon and went back to work.

[hattend]

Why the Crime Scene Tape, Folks??

FAA will want to examine the "wreckage" to determine the fine.

[JFC]

There were on a reality show. Something very fishy here.

[for-q-clinton]

But the question is how? The balloon would probably lift off immediately and pull the kid in the sky with him.

So how does one hold down a ballown via a tether then climb in the balloon and have it lift you? Sure you can wrap it around a pole, but then it’s uneven and would be difficult to get into without destroying the flimsy balloon.

If that is what happened I’d be surprised.

[mojitojoe]

Well Olbermann is worse, Matthews and Shep tied for 2nd.

[RobRoy]

Don’t be silly. They would have to be carried. Probably by migrating swallows.

[CitizenM]

I really should be doing something constructive though. I have painting to do, carpets to clean, lunch to eat, cats to feed, dogs to water...

You sound like me...except I have to work on my farm in FarmVille on Facebook, LOL!!!

[BuckeyeTexan]

However it turns out, someone is going to be in trouble. Not only didd the FAA clear the air space over DIA, but also the national guard set up a “situation room” for dealing with this.

[DoughtyOne]

Yes.

[Lady Jag]

FOX News TV.