The pilot of a hot-air balloon
that collided with overhead electricity cables and crashed to
the ground is being investigated after two students died in the
accident.
Hans Rolf Friedrich, a 72-year-old German national, was
piloting the balloon when Giuseppe Nicola Lasaponara, 17, and
Davide Belgrano, 20, both from Matera, reportedly threw
themselves out of the basket after becoming frightened when it
began to swing and suddenly lost altitude.
Their bodies were found hundreds of metres apart, leading
investigators to believe that they threw themselves out of the
balloon basket one after the other.
Rosana de Fraia, Matera prosecutor, has opened a multiple
manslaughter investigation in connection with the deaths of the
two youths.
Friedrich, who was considered an "expert" balloon pilot,
suffered burns to the hands and a number of small fractures but
his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
The balloon festival has been cancelled and Matera Mayor
Raffaello De Ruggieri has declared the city to be in mourning
following the death of the two students, who attended the
'Olivetti' technical institute.
Deputy Interior Minister Filippo Bubbico said in a tweet: "I
express my deep condolences to the families of the students
killed in the balloon accident that happened today in
Montescaglioso".
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