By P. SOLOMON BANDA, Associated Press Writer P. Solomon Banda, Associated Press Writer – 10 mins ago

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – A 6-year-old boy climbed into a homemade balloon aircraft and floated away Thursday, forcing officials to scramble to figure out how to rescue the boy as he hurled through the air.

The bizarre scene played out live on television and prompted fears that the flying saucer-shaped balloon would crash with the young child inside. FAA spokesman Mike Fergus says the agency has been notified and it was unclear whether traffic controllers had picked it up on radar.

Larimer County sheriff's spokeswoman Eloise Campanella says the device has the potential to rise to 10,000 feet. Sheriff's officials last saw the device floating south of Milliken, which is about 40 miles north of Denver.

"We were sitting eating, out looking where they normally shoot off hot air balloons. My husband said he saw something. It went over our rooftop. Then we saw the big round balloonish thing, it was spinning," said neighbor Lisa Eklund.

Additional details about the child and the balloon were not immediately available.

They have a video of this on cnn and the balloon is flying pretty fast....

oh my gosh!

Have they found him?

It's happening right now!

oh my goodness!

that thing is soooo high up and going so fast!


oh nooo they think he may have fallen out!!!

I don't want to see this.

When I saw this thread, I thought of the movie Radio Flyer

where were his parents?!

matthewgrant said:

The family is giving information....they think he's still in there...not sure....but the compartment door is opened a little bit.

I feel queasy watching this play out... and the helium is running out quick.

They are going to try and hover a helicopter over the balloon...and grab it some how.

oh boy...they are beginning to think he is not aboard...because his weight would stabilize the balloon....if he's not in the balloon where the hell is he???? They are not sure though...it's a guess.

that thing is in bad shape they need to hurry if he's still in there!
[Edited 10/15/09 12:23pm]

peacenlovealways said:

they say that but how much does a 6 year old weigh and would it be able to keep the thing stable while it's flying?

matthewgrant said:

yeah...I was thinking that...his weight probably won't affect it...

they are showing delayed footage of the balloon in respect to the family

It would be sad...if the boy is somewhere else..

why do newspeople say the MOST inane shit?

what would be the impact of the temperature?
the twisting and turning must bother him

It's this family from Wife Swap

http://abc.go.com/shows/w...743?page=2

BklynBabe said:

it landed....they are about to check....

get in there and look!
[Edited 10/15/09 12:37pm]

its down

They said it would be up for another 30 minutes and then it just came down. A soft landing from what it appears.

why are they just staring at it?

BklynBabe said:

i know eh? jeez

It's live on CNN right now. The balloon has landed, but no one is checking inside the balloon. Weird situation.

if he fell out wouldn't the door be open...they are popping the balloon.