Accident took place in a popular tourist zone
At least twelve people were injured in the fall of a hot air balloon near an archaeological site near Mexico City on Friday, local authorities said.
The balloon made a “forced landing” in San Martin de Las Piramides after hitting an air bag, according to a statement from the Civil Protection Agency of the State of Mexico.
The twelve people on board are receiving treatment for injuries to a local clinic, according to the statement.
Images shared by the authorities and geolocalized by CNN show that the accident occurred a short distance from the Moon Pyramid, a popular tourist site in the ancient city of Teotihuacan. The balloon was covered by seals and electric lines along Tuxpan Avenue, a two -lane road just over a thousand meters from the base of the pyramid.
The Civil Protection Agency added that the balloon was operated by a tour company that offers hot air balloon tours to see the pyramids from above. When CNN called the number indicated on the company’s website, the representative declined to comment on the incident.
The Attorney General’s Office of the State of Mexico said that he is investigating a 29-year-old police that the police have detained.
According to the Mexican government, Teotihuacan was once one of the largest cities of pre-Columbian Mesoamérica and the sun and moon pyramids form the twin centers of ancient ruins.
The balloon rides around the pyramids are popular among tourists who visit Mexico, according to the government’s tourism portal.
