Hot-air balloon bumps line, causing brief power outage during Albuquerque balloon fiesta

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A hot air balloon crashed into a power line in northeast Albuquerque on Monday, leaving nearly 13,000 customers of a major electric utility without power for nearly an hour, authorities said.

Monday was the third day of the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

The state’s largest electricity provider, Public Service Company of New Mexico, said the incident occurred at 8:35 a.m. and affected 12,730 customers.

Fiesta spokesman Tom Garrity said the pilot was the only person on board and landed the balloon safely and was not injured. The man’s name was not released and there was no immediate word on what caused the incident.

The Balloon Festival is one of the most photographed events in the world, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators to New Mexico every fall to see more than 100 balloons in bright colors and special shapes soar.