Newlywed couple and new mum among 16 killed in Texas hot air balloon crash
The Heart of Texas Balloon Rides group was 26 minutes into an hour-long flight when it hit power lines in Texas, USA
THESE are the tragic first photos of some of the victim's of the hot air balloon disaster.
A newlywed couple and a new mum were among the 16 tragically killed in a hot air balloon crash in Lockhart, Texas.
The couple got married in February
Matt and Sunday Rowan had been married less than six months before their lives were tragically cut short in the tragic incident.
Sunday had bought the balloon ride as a birthday present for her husband last year.
Shortly before the tragic crash, Matt, 34, had sent a haunting picture of the skyline to his volleyball teammates from on board the balloon.
Joshua Rowan told NBC News that his brother and sister-in-law were on the doomed flight, one of the deadliest balloon crashes in history.
Mr Rowan had just started a job as chief of Clinical Trials in Burns and Trauma at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research.
"He was doing some amazing work and research", Joshua Rowan said.
"He felt like a lot of the stuff he was doing would have benefits for soldier and other service members who had been injured by burns."
He said that the couple, from San Antonio, were "so happy together," and were trying to "grow a family".
One of the final messages Mr Rowan sent was to tell his volleyball team that he'd be late to a game because he was taking a hot air balloon ride.
They leave behind Sunday's five-year-old son from a previous relationship.
Paige Brabson, who gave birth to her first daughter a few months, bought tickets to the hot air balloon ride as a Mother's Day gift for her mum Lorilee Brabson who was also on board.
A family member confirmed their deaths.
Tresa and Joe Owens, died in the crash on Saturday shortly after they celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary, according to his sister, the reported.
A fire is thought to have broken out in the basket section of the balloon mid-flight before it came down in a pasture in Lockhart, on Saturday at 7.40am local time, leaving no survivors.
The balloon's pilot has been identified as Skip Nichols, of the company Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides.
Commentators say the tragedy may well be the deadliest hot air balloon crash in America after a similar tragedy left six dead in Colorado in 1993.
An official with the Texas Department of Public Safety told investigators think the balloon's basket may have hit power lines while in the air, causing it to catch fire.
The balloon was 26 minutes into an hour-long ride when it plummeted to Earth.
The field where the balloon was found was cordoned off by officials, who launched an investigation to find out what happened.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
An eyewitness told how she heard a popping noise as the balloon plummeted to the ground.
She said: "At first I heard a whooshing sound and then a big ball of fire.
"I would say it (the fireball) got up as high as those power lines."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has responded to the incident with a statement, calling it a "heartbreaking tragedy".
He said: "My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as the Lockhart community.
"The investigation into the cause of this tragic accident will continue, and I ask all of Texas to join us in praying for those lost."
Tributes have poured in for pilot Nichols.
Bianca Szal Storll wrote on Facebook: "Skip Nichols 24 years ago you took me on my first and only balloon ride.
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"Your passion for it was contagious as was your happy go lucky outlook on life. RIP my friend."
And William Nelson, a balloon pilot himself, wrote: "We lost a long time friend and balloon pilot Skip Nichols in this morning...
"My heart goes out to his mother and to the families of the passengers that were flying in the balloon."
Wendy Bartch posted: "Love you Skip. Forever... Rest in Peace my friend. You touched my heart."
Meanwhile, condolences flooded in for the rest of the victims from local community groups.
Local outreach programme OperationBlueShield tweeted: "We send our condolences to all affected by the hot air balloon crash near Lockhart, TX."
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