Emergency Landing in Temecula Backyard
A hot-air balloon carrying 13 people, including the pilot, made an emergency landing on a small grassy area at a home in Temecula, California, on Saturday. The landing occurred due to low fuel and shifting winds, prompting the pilot to bring the balloon down safely on a plot of grass approximately 10 feet (3 meters) wide.
Hunter Perrin, the homeowner, was unaware of the unusual visitors until a neighbor informed him of the landing.
“I was watching TV and my wife was doing yoga,” Perrin told the Associated Press. “There was a man standing in front of my door saying: ‘They just landed.’ What? I was very confused.”
The group of passengers, initially anxious, expressed relief upon reaching solid ground in the confined backyard space. Jenna Perrin described the event as remarkable.
“It was unbelievable, like something out of a Disney fairytale,” Jenna Perrin said. “The balloon didn’t hit our house or our trees. It was kissing the fence.”
Passengers’ Experience and Pilot’s Actions
Among the passengers were Brianna Avalos and her husband, who were celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary with the balloon ride. Avalos recounted the pilot’s explanation for the emergency landing.
“The pilot informed passengers that he needed to make an emergency landing because of low fuel and a shift in winds,” Avalos said to KABC-TV.
“At first I was like: ‘Oh my God! We’re in a backyard! This is crazy!’”
The balloon, notable for its blue color adorned with gold stars and a crescent moon, towered over the Perrin home as it came to rest. After safely disembarking the passengers, the pilot took the balloon back into the air and landed it on a nearby street where it was dismantled.
“He was an amazing pilot,” Avalos added.
Operator’s Statement
Denni Barrett, owner of Magical Adventure, the company providing the balloon rides, declined to disclose the pilot’s identity but praised his decision-making during the incident.
“He had exercised great judgment and done the right thing,” Barrett said.
Barrett noted that most landings typically occur in California’s Riverside County wine country, where backyards tend to be larger.
“Most of our landings are in wine country,” Barrett explained. “Usually they’re bigger backyards.”
