British Couple Injured in Balloon Crash Near Teotihuacan

A British couple suffered serious injuries, with the woman in critical condition, after the hot air balloon they were riding struck power lines and crashed onto a football field near the ancient Teotihuacan pyramids in Mexico on Monday morning. The incident occurred around 8:40 a.m. in the municipality of Teotihuacan, about 40 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, during a popular tourist flight over the archaeological site.

The balloon, registered as XAOZY and operated by the company Happy Puerto, was descending when it collided with high-voltage overhead cables, causing an electric shock that burned the two passengers. Claire Wolstenholme, 43, and her partner Nicholas Wright, 49, both from London, were the only passengers aboard. Witnesses described a sudden drop, followed by a loud bang and screams, as the balloon plummeted onto the field in the San Lorenzo Tlamimilolpan area. The pilot, identified as Santiago Torres, emerged unharmed and was later taken in for questioning by state prosecutors, with some reports indicating he had been detained, though this has not been officially confirmed.

Local farmer Refugio Hernandez, who was working nearby, recounted the chaos: "The...