Attempting to cross the Atlantic, balloonist crash lands in Canada

Jonathan Trappe, who was attempting to become the first balloonist to make a trans-Atlantic flight using only cluster balloons, crash landed in Newfoundland, Canada. Speaking from the command center overseeing Trappe’s flight, Kevin Knapp said the crash occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. EDT. Trappe was 12 hours into a planned 2,500-mile journey and was forced to spend the night in the Newfoundland wilderness. “Landed safe, at an alternate location. Remote. I put the exposure canopy up on the boat. Will stay here for the night,” Trappe wrote in a post on his Facebook page.

Trappe’s team said the cluster balloon was unable to keep the stable altitude of 18,000 feet while flying, resulting in rapid descents and ascents. The Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are currently searching for his location.