Chayton Wiescholek dies in fatal Eloy hot air balloon crash
Fatal Eloy hot air balloon crash death of Chayton Wiescholek – Obituary
Four people have lost their lives, and another is in critical condition following a tragic hot air balloon accident in southern Arizona early Sunday morning, according to officials.
The balloon, which was navigating near Eloy—approximately 50 miles northwest of Tucson—had just let out eight skydivers when it suddenly plunged to the ground with five people onboard. Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney reported that the skydivers exited safely and completed their jump before the balloon’s unexpected descent.
Chief Gwaltney noted, “The skydivers were unharmed and finished their dive as planned, but shortly after, something went catastrophically wrong with the balloon, leading to its crash.”
The cause of the crash, which occurred just before 8 a.m., remains undetermined, and it is uncertain if weather conditions played a role, according to Gwaltney. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched investigations into the incident.
Three of the deceased were passengers with no intentions of skydiving, while the fourth fatality was the balloon’s pilot, police have confirmed.
The victims have been identified as Chayton Wiescholek, 28, from Union City, Michigan; Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, from Andrews, Indiana; Atahan Kiliccote, 24, from Cupertino, California; and Cornelius van der Walt, 37, originally from South Africa, who was the pilot and resided in Eloy.
Valerie Stutterheim, a 23-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona, remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
The balloon was operated by Droplyne Hot Air Balloon Rides, a company based in Eloy. Attempts to reach the company for comment were unsuccessful. The company’s website, founded by van der Walt in 2017, boasts a “perfect safety record” and states that flights are canceled in marginal weather conditions, with the pilot having final authority on safety decisions.
Eloy Mayor Micah Powell remarked on the impact of the incident on the city’s skydiving community, known for its global prominence. “The community is deeply affected by this tragedy,” Powell said, acknowledging the tight-knit nature of the skydiving community.
Further details will be provided as they become available, according to police.
Fatal Eloy hot air balloon crash death of Chayton Wiescholek – Obituary Four people have lost their lives, and another is in critical condition following a tragic hot air balloon accident in southern Arizona early Sunday morning, according to officials. The balloon, which was navigating near Eloy—approximately 50 miles northwest of Tucson—had just let out…
Fatal Eloy hot air balloon crash death of Chayton Wiescholek – Obituary Four people have lost their lives, and another is in critical condition following a tragic hot air balloon accident in southern Arizona early Sunday morning, according to officials. The balloon, which was navigating near Eloy—approximately 50 miles northwest of Tucson—had just let out…