The balloon made a hard landing in the Stewart Valley dry lake bed with 10 people on board.
PAHRUMP, NV — Federal aviation officials are investigating after a hot air balloon carrying 10 people made a hard landing Thursday morning west of Pahrump, injuring multiple riders and sparking a fire in a remote desert area.
The crash drew Nye County deputies, Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue crews and federal investigators to the Stewart Valley dry lake bed near the California line. The case matters now because several people were hospitalized, one person suffered a severe head injury, and others had burns and blunt force injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate and release preliminary information after the crash.
The first emergency report came around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, when the Nye County Sheriff’s Office received a text message to 911 about a hot air balloon crash in the Stewart Valley dry lake bed, west of Pahrump. The message came by text because the caller reported having no cell service in the area. Officials said the caller also reported that victims were being taken by private vehicle to Desert View Hospital. The FAA later said the balloon made a hard landing around 7 a.m. with 10 people on board. Pahrump Fire Chief Scott Lewis said the injuries to eight passengers and the pilot included thermal burns, smoke inhalation, possible fractures, lacerations, bruising, scrapes and scratches.
Deputies went to both the crash scene and the hospital, according to local officials. When Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue crews reached the dry lake bed, passengers had already left the scene, and only members of the balloon company’s ground crew remained there. Authorities said one person had a severe head injury, while several others suffered second- and third-degree burns and other blunt force injuries. Some patients needed further treatment at hospitals in Las Vegas. Officials did not immediately release the names, ages or hometowns of all people on board. The exact cause of the hard landing also remained unknown as the FAA opened its review.
A passenger later described the ride as calm until its final moments. Brant Kairit said his family was visiting from Mississippi and chose the balloon trip as a Las Vegas-area activity. “Everything was just wonderful,” Kairit said, describing an early drive to Pahrump and a flight that lasted about 45 minutes. He said the balloon struck the ground during landing, rose again about 20 to 30 feet and then tipped on its side. Kairit said his family was on the high side of the basket as it tilted. “This ain’t going to be good,” he said he thought as the basket began to roll.
Kairit said the basket tipped and a fire broke out. He said people were able to get out from under it and began stomping out flames. His wife was among the most seriously hurt, he said, with bleeding and multiple broken bones. She was taken to Desert View Hospital and later flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas for surgery, he said. Other riders came from two tourist groups, according to accounts given after the crash. Authorities said the remote location complicated communication, and the first 911 contact came through a text message rather than a regular call.
The crash happened in desert terrain west of Pahrump, an unincorporated Nye County community about an hour west of Las Vegas. The area is known for broad valley floors, dry lake beds and open views near the Nevada-California border. Balloon flights in the region often launch early in the morning, when winds are usually calmer and temperatures are lower. Officials did not say whether wind, equipment, pilot actions, terrain or another factor played a role in Thursday’s crash. The damaged balloon was seen outside Pahrump after the hard landing and fire.
The FAA said it would investigate the incident and post a preliminary accident or incident report, typically by the next business day. The early report is expected to include basic facts, such as aircraft information, the location, reported injuries and a short description of what happened. A preliminary report does not decide the cause. More detailed findings can take longer as investigators review statements, weather, maintenance records, pilot information and the balloon’s condition. No criminal charges had been announced, and local officials did not report any deaths as of Saturday.
The balloon company named in later local reporting did not respond to a request for comment. Authorities did not immediately say whether all 10 people on board remained hospitalized or had been released. The sheriff’s office said multiple agencies were involved in the response and investigation. For families on the flight, the crash turned a short sightseeing ride into a hospital trip and a federal case. The next public milestone is the FAA’s preliminary report, which is expected to provide the first official summary of the incident.
Author note: Last updated June 20, 2026.