LONGVIEW, Texas — Crews have successfully removed the remains of a hot air balloon that became entangled nearly 900 feet up a Gregg County radio tower over the weekend.
Specialized tower workers returned to the site Monday, climbing the structure and carefully cutting away sections of the balloon that had been left draped across the steel following Saturday’s dramatic rescue of the two people on board.
Adrian Salsman, one of the climbers, said removing a hot air balloon from that height was a first for him. “At the end of the day, we got it down by lunchtime,” he said. “It was something out of the ordinary.”
Meanwhile, members of the Longview Fire Department reflected on the intense rescue climb. Firefighters described racing up the tower to secure the basket and its occupants, calling it both physically and mentally demanding.
Officials credited rigorous training and technical expertise for the successful rescue, calling it a historic operation for the department.
With the balloon now removed, crews will conduct a full inspection of the tower and clear any remaining rescue equipment.