Pictured: Hot air balloon pilot Cornelius van der Walt who died alongside three passengers in Arizona desert crash
Friends are paying tribute to the ‘fantastic’ pilot who died along with three passengers in a hot air balloon crash in the Arizona desert.
Cornelius van der Walt has been hailed as an “adventurer” and “good man” by loved ones on social media, who have identified him as the pilot in the Sunday morning crash that left four dead — including a 28-year-old nurse — and one seriously injured .
One of them said Van der Walt “had amazing skills in so many ways” and that those who knew him will remember him as “a great man.” Others thanked him for the impact he had on their lives and offered their condolences to his family.
According to police, the hot air balloon crashed around 7:50 a.m. in the desert about eight kilometers north of the city of Eloy. According to Mayor Micah Powell, there were thirteen people in the balloon, eight paratroopers, four passengers and a pilot.
Preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicates that the balloon crashed after an “unspecified problem” with the envelope.
Hot air balloon pilot Cornelius van der Walt (photo) is being praised by loved ones on social media as an ‘adventurer’ and ‘good man’. His friends have identified him as the pilot in the Sunday morning crash that killed four and seriously injured one
Katie Bartrom, 28, was identified by her mother as one of four people killed in the hot air balloon crash in the Arizona desert on Sunday morning
Police said the hot air balloon crashed in the desert around 7:50 a.m. Sunday, about five miles north of the town of Eloy. An NTSB spokesperson said preliminary information indicates the balloon crashed due to an issue with the envelope
According to Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney, the paratroopers on board planned to jump from the balloon and land at the Eloy Municipal Airport.
Van der Walt was a “character, an adventurer, a friend,” his friend Phil Brandt wrote about the “tragic” incident in an emotional Facebook post.
“Four people lost their lives today, including my friend,” he wrote, saying Van der Walt was one of “very few balloon pilots to take on skydiving duties.”
Brandt, apparently a fellow balloon pilot, added, “I’m so sorry that this one flight will probably be what the public will remember you for.
“Just know that so many others, including myself, know that you were a wonderfully good man and a great pilot.”
Bob Romaneschi, owner of Snohomish Balloon Rides in Washington, said the pilot “took skydiving and ballooning very seriously.” The pair reportedly met in 2018 when they worked together on a stunt to celebrate National Aviation Day.
‘Today we learned that he made his last balloon flight, and it did not end well. The tragedy cost him and the lives of at least three others. One person remains in critical condition,” Romaneschi wrote.
Friends pay tribute to ‘great’ pilot Cornelius van der Walt, who died along with three passengers in a hot air balloon crash in the Arizona desert on Sunday morning
He encouraged others not to speculate about “what might have happened” and asked everyone to “take some time and refrain from passing judgment”, saying: “Let those who can process their investigation and their findings report to us bring out.’
He also thanked Van der Walt for taking part in the project six years ago, saying the experience was “incredible”, and expressed his condolences to all the victims.
‘RIP Cornelis. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and those who died with you,” he concluded.
Friend Jose Salinas also paid tribute to the pilot, writing: “Rip bro. One of the coolest and most humble men I’ve ever met. God bless you and the family.”
Heartfelt messages for Van der Walt have poured in just hours after the family of 28-year-old Katie Bartrom revealed she was one of the victims in the crash.
Bartrom’s mother told ABC Arizona that the young woman was a nurse who loved skydiving and adventure.
The plane hit the ground at the intersection of Sunshine Boulevard and Hanna Road, in a rural area near the Eloy Municipal Airport
According to a witness, the balloon was ‘shapeless’ and ‘deflated’ before it crashed
According to Eloy Mayor Micah Powell, there were 13 people in the balloon – eight paratroopers, four passengers and a pilot.
The plane crashed about five miles north of the town of Eloy in Pinal County. Katie Bartrom was one of the four people killed, her mother revealed
The 28-year-old (pictured here on an unrelated skydiving trip) is the only victim to have been publicly named. Police described the others simply as ‘adults’
Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney told reporters that the balloon came from out of town and that the paratroopers planned to land at the Eloy Municipal Airport, near the accident site.
“The incident seemed to occur very quickly,” he added, calling it “an absolute tragedy” for the community.
A witness who saw the last 10 seconds of the balloon’s descent described it as shapeless, deflated and coming straight down, Eloy Mayor Micah Powell said.
The eight paratroopers jumped from the plane before the incident, leaving five people on board.
Gwaltney added, “What we know at this time is that the paratroopers were able to exit the balloon without incident and complete their planned skydiving, and shortly thereafter something catastrophic happened to the balloon causing it to crash to the ground.”
One person was pronounced dead at the scene, the other three died at a hospital. Another passenger remains in critical condition at a Phoenix-area trauma center.
“Out of respect for their privacy, the names of the victims are currently being withheld pending notification of next of kin,” Eloy police said in a news release.
“The Eloy Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of those involved in this heartbreaking incident.”
The skydivers jumped from the plane before the accident to complete their “planned skydiving event,” Gwaltney said
Four passengers and a pilot were on board at the time of the accident
Federal agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, responded to the scene to investigate
Flyover video from FOX 10 Phoenix shows the balloon crumpled in the mud near the intersection of Sunshine Boulevard and Hanna Road.
Trucks arrived on site to tow the gondola away and hoist it onto a trailer with a crane.
Researchers were seen walking over the front of the mangled balloon and folding it up before carrying it away.
Federal agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, continue to investigate the incident.
An NTSB spokesperson said preliminary information indicates the balloon crashed due to an “unspecified problem” with the envelope.