Texas Firefighters Save 2 From Balloon Stuck on Tower

When a rainbow hot air balloon snagged on a Texas cell tower Saturday morning, two passengers found themselves dangling 920 feet in the air with nowhere to go but down.

The Longview Fire Department received the call just before 9 a.m. The balloon had collided with a 1,100-foot cell tower, puncturing the envelope and leaving the basket swinging in the wind with two people trapped inside.

Fourteen firefighters, including off-duty responders who rushed to help, began the climb. By 10 a.m., they had reached the frightened passengers, who were conscious and miraculously uninjured from the crash.

The rescue team used multiple 300-foot ropes to carefully lower the passengers back to solid ground. They worked rope by rope, fighting the wind and the dizzying height, until both people were safely on the ground.

Lieutenant Stephen Winchell called it "the Super Bowl of rope rescues" because of the extreme challenges. The basket was swinging wildly in the breeze while rescuers climbed with heavy gear in full exposure to the elements.

The passengers stayed calm and cooperative throughout the ordeal, making the rescue possible. Their composure under terrifying circumstances helped the team work efficiently and safely.

The Ripple Effect

The dramatic rescue drew crowds of spectators, with some families setting up lawn chairs to watch the hours-long operation. Local construction company Tower King II volunteered to carefully dismantle the balloon remnants, prioritizing the safe removal of the propane tank still attached to the basket.

The community showed up in more ways than one. Pietro's, a local pizzeria, delivered free pizza to the exhausted rescue team, prompting a grateful Facebook post from the fire department: "Never expected, but always appreciated."

The rescue showcased not just the skill and bravery of first responders, but the spirit of a community that rallies around people in need. From the off-duty firefighters who answered the call to the businesses offering support, Longview proved that heroism comes in many forms.

Both passengers walked away without a scratch, thanks to the dedication of rescuers who climbed nearly 1,000 feet twice in one morning.