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The boy later stated in a live interview that "we did this for a show", adding weight to the speculation that the incident was a hoax and a publicity stunt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26217951-2,00.html |title=Balloon boy says 'we did this for a show' |publisher=news.com.au |date= |accessdate=2009-10-16}}</ref> The Heene family is known for storm chasing as well as being on two episodes of the reality televison show [[Wife Swap]].<ref name="AP:Boy in Balloon">{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091016/ap_on_re_us/us_boy_in_balloon|title='Boy in Balloon' family never shied from spotlight|publisher=Associated Press |date=2009-10-16 |accessdate=2009-10-16 }}</ref>
The boy later stated in a live interview that "we did this for a show", adding weight to the speculation that the incident was a hoax and a publicity stunt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26217951-2,00.html |title=Balloon boy says 'we did this for a show' |publisher=news.com.au |date= |accessdate=2009-10-16}}</ref> The Heene family is known for storm chasing as well as being on two episodes of the reality televison show [[Wife Swap]].<ref name="AP:Boy in Balloon">{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091016/ap_on_re_us/us_boy_in_balloon|title='Boy in Balloon' family never shied from spotlight|publisher=Associated Press |date=2009-10-16 |accessdate=2009-10-16 }}</ref>
Richard Heene, the father, who built the UFO-shaped mylar balloon, had previously submitted video of himself to [[CNN iReport]] in which he claimed to prove that the planet Mars was civilized. In a press meeting after his son's return, Heene claimed that the balloon was designed to use the [[Biefeld–Brown effect]], a purported propulsion system championed among fringe science enthusiasts but unlikely to have practical use.
Richard Heene, the father, who built the UFO-shaped mylar balloon, had previously submitted video of himself to [[CNN iReport]] in which he claimed to prove that the planet Mars was civilized. Early media reports described the father as a "scientist", but more recently modified the description to "amateur scientist".[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6340979/Balloon-boy-who-is-Richard-Heene.html] or "sort of a scientist-slash-inventor".[http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/15/colorado.boy.balloon/index.html] Heene's own website, however, uses the term "psi-entist", which, when spoken aloud, which might explain the confusion of terms with "[[scientist]]".In a press meeting after his son's return, Heene claimed that the balloon was designed to use the [[Biefeld–Brown effect]], a purported propulsion system championed among fringe science enthusiasts but unlikely to have practical use.


There have previously been similar cases<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Walters</ref> where others have constructed homebuilt balloon craft thereby endangering their lives and creating widespread concern and disruption of commercial air travel.
There have previously been similar cases<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Walters</ref> where others have constructed homebuilt balloon craft thereby endangering their lives and creating widespread concern and disruption of commercial air travel.

Revision as of 12:59, 16 October 2009

Template:Rescue

The Colorado balloon incident took place on October 15, 2009 and attracted world-wide attention[1][2] when six-year-old Falcon Heene from Fort Collins, Colorado (referred to as "Balloon Boy" by some media outlets[3]) was thought to be travelling at altitudes reaching 15,000 feet[4] in a home-made helium balloon colored and shaped to resemble a silver flying saucer-type of UFO.[5][6][7][8] The boy had reportedly climbed into the balloon when it became untethered and launched. It was reported that an object had detached from the balloon and fallen to the ground and the boy was not in the aircraft when it landed 12 miles northeast of Denver International Airport.[6] A search was conducted for the child and he was found hiding in a box in the attic of his house.[9]

The boy later stated in a live interview that "we did this for a show", adding weight to the speculation that the incident was a hoax and a publicity stunt.[10] The Heene family is known for storm chasing as well as being on two episodes of the reality televison show Wife Swap.[11] Richard Heene, the father, who built the UFO-shaped mylar balloon, had previously submitted video of himself to CNN iReport in which he claimed to prove that the planet Mars was civilized. Early media reports described the father as a "scientist", but more recently modified the description to "amateur scientist".[1] or "sort of a scientist-slash-inventor".[2] Heene's own website, however, uses the term "psi-entist", which, when spoken aloud, which might explain the confusion of terms with "scientist".In a press meeting after his son's return, Heene claimed that the balloon was designed to use the Biefeld–Brown effect, a purported propulsion system championed among fringe science enthusiasts but unlikely to have practical use.

There have previously been similar cases[12] where others have constructed homebuilt balloon craft thereby endangering their lives and creating widespread concern and disruption of commercial air travel.

Search and discovery

Heene was first noticed missing when his sibling reportedly saw him climb into the basket of the balloon. The balloon came down northeast of Denver Internation Airport. The boy was not found inside the balloon. Officials expressed concern that he may have fallen out during flight. Margie Martinez of the Weld County Sheriff's Office said that the door was unlocked in the balloon. A sherriff deputy reported seeing something fall from the balloon near Platteville, Colorado and a photograph of the balloon in flight with a small black dot below seemed to suggest the boy may have fallen out or something had detached from the balloon.[13] There was also speculation that he may never have been in the balloon at all, and that he was hiding somewhere in his neighborhood.[14] Once the balloon touched down, it was reported that it did not appear breached.[15] Search crews in Colorado searched for the boy.[16]

In the mean time, planes were rerouted around the balloon's flight path and Denver International Airport was briefly shut down.[11]

At approximately 4:14pm local time, the boy was found hiding in a cardboard box in his parent's attic over the garage.[17] Falcon's father said he had yelled at his son for meddling with the balloon, which was an experimental form of alternative transportation, capable of flying "50 or 100 feet" above traffic. [18]

Possible hoax

Several news agencies are questioning whether this was a hoax.[19][20] "Few had raised the issue of whether such a balloon could even lift off with a 50-pound kid inside, and then float the way it did."[21] Helium has a lift capacity of 1,1145 kg per 1000 liter of gas. To be able to lift the boy up the size of the balloon would have to be 20.000 liter Helium.

A Colorado sheriff investigating the incident said it does not appear to be a hoax.[22] However, when Falcon and his family were being interviewed by Wolf Blitzer on Larry King Live he asked Falcon "Why did you not come out of the garage?" After his parents repeated the question, he responded by saying "You guys said that, um [pause] we did this for the show". [23]

Internet Meme

The incident sparked a "balloon boy" Internet meme, as the events were closely followed in blogs and social networking sites in real time, generating speculation, image editing jokes and parodies of the story, which started even when the boy's safety was uncertain.[24][25]

References

Wikinews has related news:
  1. ^ "6-year-old Colorado boy found alive after setting loose balloon". CNN. 2009-10-15. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  2. ^ "World watches odyssey of 'Balloon Boy' in real time".
  3. ^ Canada. "Balloon boy rescuers had few options". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  4. ^ "Boy found safe after experimental balloon drifts off - KDVR". kdvr.com/news/. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  5. ^ "Boy trapped in 'UFO-like balloon' floating over Colorado - Telegraph". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  6. ^ a b Page 1 of 2 View as a single page Updated. "Missing 'balloon boy' found hiding in attic - World - NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2009-10-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Fort Collins 'balloon boy' found alive; actually hiding in attic - Boulder Daily Camera". Dailycamera.com. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  8. ^ "Falcon Heene: Balloon Boy, Wife Swap Son (PHOTOS, VIDEO, INFO)". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  9. ^ 6:50 p.m. ET. "Runaway balloon chase: Boy found at home - Life- msnbc.com". MSNBC. Retrieved 2009-10-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Balloon boy says 'we did this for a show'". news.com.au. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  11. ^ a b "'Boy in Balloon' family never shied from spotlight". Associated Press. 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  12. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Walters
  13. ^ "Picture of falling object from balloon is ominous for Fort Collins Heene family".
  14. ^ http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/6-year-old-alone-in-hot-air-balloon-over-colorado/?hp
  15. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/15/colorado.boy.balloon/index.html
  16. ^ "Crews Launch Search Effort For Ft. Collins Boy".
  17. ^ "6-year-old Colorado boy found alive after setting loose balloon".
  18. ^ "Falcon Heene fuss all over 'hovercar' experiment". www.news.com.au. 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  19. ^ "The Family behind the "Balloon Boy" Story".
  20. ^ "Was Balloon Boy Chase a Hoax?".
  21. ^ "'Boy in Balloon' Captivates Media: Balloon Lands And He's Not Inside--Hiding in Attic--Hoax?".
  22. ^ "Balloon aftermath...Recovery warning...Lindsay Lohan".
  23. ^ "Hoax fears after Falcon Heene hid 'for the show'".
  24. ^ "Boy in balloon captivates news-hungry Web'".
  25. ^ "Balloon Boy - Quickest Meme Ever?'".
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