CARDROSS, Prince Edward Island — Just 12 hours after launching from Presque Isle, the Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer made an early landing in Prince Edward Island.
The hydrogen-powered balloon had an apparent gas leak that forced the pilots to land before completing their trans-Atlantic quest, according to a social media post from Torabhaig International Explore Flight Control.
The three pilots — Bert Padelt of Bally, Pennsylvania, David Cuneo of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Alicia Hempleman-Adams of Britain — are safe.
“It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that The Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer Balloon has been forced to land near Cardross, Prince Edward Island, Canada at 1415UTC with a suspected gas leak. All 3 crew members are safe,” flight control posted.
The time, 1415 UTC, is 10:15 a.m. Eastern time.
The flight took off at about 10 p.m. Wednesday from Presque Isle, as a small crowd of onlookers turned out to see the pilots off. It was the second attempt to make the first trans-Atlantic crossing in an open-basket hydrogen balloon.
Planning started about two years ago with accomplished balloonist and balloon builder Padelt, renowned pilot Sir David Hempleman-Adams of England and Swiss scientist and explorer Frederik Paulsen. The balloon is named after its sponsor, the Torabhaig Distillery on Scotland’s Isle of Skye, which Paulsen and his daughter own.
This time around, his former crew members weren’t able to make the trip, so Padelt was joined by Hempleman-Adams’ daughter, Alicia, and Cuneo. Besides trying for the record, the crew was to collect air samples in hopes of new scientific discoveries.
Paul Cyr of Presque Isle offered his property as a headquarters and launching site, and crews have made several trips to the area. They hoped for a launch in September 2023, but weather conditions didn’t allow the trip. Their first flight occurred last June, but poor weather caused an early landing.
Well-wishers on social media offered encouragement to the pilots and crew, expressing relief that the pilots are safe and that the problem was discovered while they were over land.
No other details were immediately available.
