Texas Hot Air Balloon Crash: 16 People Confirmed Dead [UPDATED]

LOCKHART, TX — A hot air balloon flying Saturday near power lines in Texas crashed to the ground, killing all 16 people aboard, authorities said.

The accident occurred shortly after 7:40 a.m. local time Saturday near Lockhart, located about 30 miles south of Austin. According to the FAA, the balloon crashed into a pasture along Cistern Street.

"The balloon was occupied and it does not appear at this time that there were any survivors of the crash," Caldwell County Sheriff Daniel Law said in a statement to NBC News. "Investigators are determining the number and the identities of victims at this time.”

A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety also confirmed there were 16 fatalities, saying there were no survivors in the hot air balloon crash. The DPS was the first responding agency investigating the accident and the first investigators to arrive on the scene.

National Transportation Safety Board officials said they would be sending a "Go Team" to the crash site to investigate. The team is tasked with investigating major accidents, able to quickly assemble needed technical expertise.

The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office confirmed to Patch the accuracy of the statement issued by the sheriff to NBC and other media outlets saying there appear to be no survivors.

In a brief press conference from the scene, officials with the NTSB said there was a "significant loss of life." The area is currently being treated as a crime scene and is described as a "significant event" due to the large number of fatalities. A full go team with the NTSB will be on scene later today.

Margaret Wylie, a witness speaking to reporters at the scene, said she heard some popping sounds and then saw a fireball. At first Wylie thought a tractor exploded and hoped that those on the tractor had managed to escape.

A press conference is scheduled in the nearby town of Maxwell later this afternoon to provide further details, a woman at the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office told Patch.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement to express his and Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott's condolences to the entire community for the tragedy.

"Cecilia and I extend our deepest condolences for all those who have been affected by today's heartbreaking tragedy," Abbott said in a prepared statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as the Lockhart community. The investigation into the cause of this tragic accident will continue, and I ask all of Texas to join us in praying for those lost."

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also issued a statement, conveying his and his wife's condolences to those affected.

"Heidi and I lift up in prayer all who have been impacted by today’s tragic accident in Lockhart and send our condolences to all who have lost their loved ones," Cruz said in a prepared statement. "As always, Texans are strong in the face of adversity, and we all stand together in support of the families and entire Lockhart community as they respond to and begin to heal from this terrible incident."

The Central Texas Ballooning Association posted the following to its website after the crash.

Saturday hot air balloon accident: We don't have any information yet, but it was not a local balloon and not associated with the Central Texas Ballooning Association. Check with an Associated Press affiliate for current information. Our condolences are with their families.

According to the CTBA website, its main objectives are to promote, develop and aid the art and science of hot air ballooning in Central Texas. The association provides friendship and camaraderie in group ballooning activities in Austin and the surrounding area.

Citing NTSB statistics, NBC News said there have been 775 hot air balloon incidents in the U.S. between 1964 and 2014 requiring investigation. In that period of time, 70 people were killed in accidents. Hot air ballooning records and guidelines are not updated as regularly as other types of aviation, NBC News reported.

The death count from Saturday's crash in Lockhart is more than triple that of all deaths from hot air balloon crashes from 2000 to 2011. According to a study published in the journal Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, five people died in hot air balloon crashes in that 12-year period.

Before today, the deadliest hot air balloon crash in the U.S. occurred near Aspen, Colorado, in 1993 when six people were killed, according to The Associated Press.

Just two years ago, the NTSB called for stricter regulations in overseeing the hot air balloon industry, NBC News reported. But the Balloon Federation of America argued the industry rules were already adequate, and the FAA rejected the proposed recommendations.

Both the FAA and the NTSB will be investigating the scene of the crash site near Lockhart.

Lockhart is located less than 30 miles south of Austin and 70 miles northeast of San Antonio.

Return to Patch for updates on this breaking news story.

Patch national reporter Feroze Dhanoa contributed to this report.

Image Credit: Glenna Barlow via Flickr Creative Commons (Not a picture of the balloon that crashed in Texas)