4 dead, 1 seriously injured in Arizona desert hot air balloon crash, police say

(CNN) — A hot air balloon crashed in the southern Arizona desert this Sunday, killing four people and seriously injuring others, police announced.

The local police department said in a news release that the “catastrophic incident” occurred at 7:50 a.m. in Eloy, a city about 100 miles south of Phoenix. He went down in a desert area east of Sunshine Boulevard and Hanna Road.

Although the exact cause of the accident is unknown, preliminary information suggests the balloon had an “unspecified problem with its envelope,” said the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident.

The identities of the victims will not be released until authorities notify their next of kin, according to a statement from the Eloy Police Department.

NTSB investigators were documenting the crash site Sunday night and examining the aircraft, which will be taken to a secure facility for additional analysis in the coming days, an agency spokeswoman told CNN.

According to the NTSB, the plane was an A-160 passenger balloon manufactured by Cameron Balloons. The model can carry a pilot and up to seven passengers, according to the manufacturer’s website. CNN has sought comment from Cameron Balloons.

The Eloy Police Department said it is working with the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration on the investigation.

“As we continue our efforts, we ask for your thoughts and support for the affected families and loved ones during this difficult time,” police said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.