There was a deadly hot air balloon accident in Eloy, Arizona on January 14, 2024. Thirteen people were initially on board the balloon. Eight skydivers jumped out of the balloon before any problems occurred. There were four passengers and one pilot on board at the time of the crash. Four people were killed, and one remains in critical condition. The victims have been identified as Chayton Wiescholek, Kaitlynn Bartom, Atahan Kiliccote, and the pilot, 37-year-old Cornelius Van Der Walt. The fifth person on the plane was airlifted to a hospital in Phoenix. Early reports from the National Transportation Safety Board indicate the balloon may have crashed due to a problem with its envelope. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by this deadly incident.
There have been a number of recent plane crashes in 2022. A Cessna 172 crashed while landing at the Kahului Airport on December 23, 2023. A Cirrus SR22 crashed in Van Zandt County, Texas on December 22, 2023. A Piper Malibu Matrix crashed in Mooresville, North Carolina on December 31, 2023. A Learjet 55 crashed in Livingston, Montana on January 11, 2024. A Beechcraft Baron 55 crashed in Leyden, Massachusetts on January 14, 2024.
Spagnoletti Law Firm has attorneys licensed in Texas, Florida, and New York. We have handled numerous cases involving the failure of necessary equipment on a plane or helicopter in both federal and state court across the country. When it comes to aviation, safety must come first. Our attorneys have extensive experience in plane and helicopter crash litigation and the skills needed to aggressively represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured in a plane or helicopter crash. The experienced aviation attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of a crash. Please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your legal rights.