Scary! Little boy is trapped in a hot air balloon alone traveling over Colorado

[Happyhippychick]

It's on MSNBC. Horrifying.

[tridim]

1. My brain can't process what I'm seeing

:crazy:

[wndycty]

2. How fast is that thing moving?

Wow

[NYC_SKP]

60. Because the helicopter is moving, the balloon looks like it's flying at 200 mph.

In fact it's just moving with the air current at whatever speed they happen to be at that altitude.

[Walk away]

78. 15 mph

[ecstatic]

3. I don't think the media should be covering that

Oh... now CNN says they have it on delay :eyes:

[TwilightGardener]

6. Yeah...that may not end well.

[arcadian]

7. What? in case the thing plummets to the ground?

[TwilightGardener]

4. Now how does THAT happen? Did everyone else fall out?

[Happyhippychick]

8. He was the only one in there. He snuck in and untethered it.

[AllentownJake]

9. 6 year old climbed into it and activated it

How he activated it, I have no clue.

[joeybee12]

10. A six year old boy untied it! It was his family's!

How freaking secure did they make it if a six year old could figure out how to get it in the air! Imbeciles!!!@!!!!!

[Happyhippychick]

11. Yes, it belongs to his parents. I think they were building it.

[joeybee12]

26. I pray there is a happy ending, but I can't help but be mad at these

parents...a six-year-old gets into everything...it's like leaving a loaded gun around.

[Happyhippychick]

5. I can't stop crying. I am so sorry for that little boy and those parents.

[rvablue]

14. The speed of the thing and it's bobbing up and down!!!

:scared:

[rvablue]

MSNBC just reported that the father put the kid in it!!!!!!

To test it out. It was tethered and he lost control.

Argh!

[Happyhippychick]

18. Shit are you serious? WTF is wrong with people?!?

[EFerrari]

20. Unbelievable.

:grr:

[rvablue]

24. Dunno.....just dunno......

Sigh.

[asdjrocky]

36. Yep, I heard the same thing.

Unreal.

[snagglepuss]

41. OMG. that leaves me speechless. nt

[Shell Beau]

92. I heard the mother said she hoped he was just hiding somewhere

because maybe he was scared after untying it. I think that is a stretch though.

[spanone]

125. update...the kid climbed in while parents in house according to local police

[rvablue]

139. The balloon didn't fill itself with helium, though. n/t

[Ganja Ninja]

12. This sounds like a movie plot.

I hope this kid survives this.

[GoCubsGo]

13. I hope that they get him down safely.

Unfortunately, the only thing I can think of right now is: Sheesh. More fodder for a "South Park" episode. You KNOW they'd exploit something like this, especially considering the show is set in Colorado.

[CRF450]

15. HOLY SHIT!

That thing can be floating in the air for a very LOOONG time! Is their a way they can capture it safely?

[Skip Intro]

16. Seems like a helicopter could hover just above it and someone could climb down on a rope or ladder.

Unless it's too high for a helicopter.

Man, I hope somebody figures something out quick.

No MSNBC here, please keep updates coming.

[rvablue]

19. The speed it's going is beyond the capability of intercepting it with a helicopter

it's going way, way fast and bobbing up and down.

An expert just said that the "sucking motion" of a helicopter would preempt a rescue from the air.


Maybe they could get some kind of net up there? So scared for that little kid!

[A HERETIC I AM]

The video you are watching makes it look like it is hauling ass, but it is only moving as fast as

the wind. The cameras taking those pictures are moving, don't forget. They are obviously onboard news helicopters and since the helicopters are moving it makes it appear that the balloon is moving much faster than it is. The video is deceiving

[safeinOhio]

111. get the closest Goodyear Blimp.

Would be only way to get close.

[A HERETIC I AM]

135. How would you suppose a Blimp would effect a rescue? n/t

[Parker CA]

21. They said the vacuum from the helicopter would shred the balloon. Scary stuff, wow.

[Parker CA]

34. MSNBC now saying national guard is launching a helicopter.

[951-Riverside]

68. You can't be serious

The wind generated by the helicopter would probably cause the balloon to collapse and drop out of the sky, its moving at a high speed and the hatch is located at the bottom.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. !

[asdjrocky]

22. Can't watch and I can't look away.

[ecstatic]

39. Same here. nt

[TwilightGardener]

23. Maybe another balloon could be launched to catch up with it?

[rvablue]

28. Are you watching it or not.....

it seems the thing is so light and moving at such a high velocity. I don't think I've ever seen a regular balloon go that fast.....but then again I have no knowledge of them and have never been in one.

[TwilightGardener]

30. No--not near a TV. Just wondering what else could be used

that wouldn't knock the balloon out of the sky, or the kid out of the basket.

[snagglepuss]

80. See picture (link) of the homemade flying saucer shaped object.

Perhaps the shape is affecting its speed.


http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/year-boy-floats-homemade-flying-saucer/story?id=8837704

[AngryAmish]

38. No way to steer a balloon. You need a blimp.

Too bad they are not in Akron.

[Parker CA]

25. They need to intercept it with a huge net hung from two or three helicopters.

[rvablue]

32. I was thinking the same thing.....it's in Colorado

and I'd guess there has to be an AFB or two there.

The US military has so many tools. It wouldn't be beyond the realm of possiblity that they'd have something like this.

[closeupready]

37. would that work?

??

[Parker CA]

50. I don't know, but it's the first thing that came to my mind as a potential option.

If two copters were dragging a net and had one or two trailing with long ropes so they could keep a safe distance and then, once snagged, pull taught, they might have a chance, but getting 4 copters to coordinate such a maneuver would be ridiculous.

I'm just speculating, which isn't worth much. I may be totally off base on what's feasible.

[Blue_In_AK]

27. Being the grandma of a seven-year-old,

I can't watch this. The poor little guy must be terrified.

[mikelgb]

29. msnbc.com streaming

[AngryAmish]

31. I think it was a bad idea to allow this kid to go up there.

[elleng]

49. It wasn't planned! Family building the thing at home;

6 year old got into it and detached tether!

[rvablue]

55. Not what I just heard

the father was testing it out (tethered) with the boy inside and the father lost control.

Heard it on MSNBC, not corroborated though.........

[Shell Beau]

94. May not be true. Let's hope not.

[elleng]

150. Missed that, listening to MSNBC too.

[rvablue]

33. U.S. National Guard launching helicopter. n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

35. Please give updates for the cube rats

Thanks.

[rvablue]

45. A thread in LBN says that local law enforcement is searching the ground near family's

house as they are thinking the kid could have jumped as soon as it took off.....

[renate]

57. ew.....

I hope not; neither option is good but he couldn't possibly be alive if he jumped.

As a mom I suspect that a kid that age would stay put, hoping that somehow everything would be okay. Little kids aren't always proactive in crises.

P.S. MSNBC is now saying that he may or may not have climbed in there himself--I wonder if that's a legal thing, because they don't want to pass along hearsay that the dad put him in, or if there's new evidence that it was the kid's own idea.

[Cali_Democrat]

61. Oh my

That sounds awful. I hope the little guy is ok

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

47. The craft is shaped to look like a flying saucer.

It's drifting quite quickly, and occasionally listing at a high angle in the wind.

News commentators how it would be unwise for helicopters to approach the balloon from below in a helicopter, because they suction would cause the balloon to be sucked into the rotor.

I'm not exactly what they would expect the helicopter to do if it could approach the balloon from below, but that's not stopping the commentator from commentating.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

65. Commentators now reminding viewers it is not a flying saucer.

[Cali_Democrat]

101. I hope nobody shoots at it thinking it's from another planet. n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

131. Well, it is Colorado.

I imagine there are a number of people still upset over their anal probings.

[Blue_In_AK]

170. I had some very bizarre

other-worldly experiences in Colorado in the late '60s. To this day I have no rational explanation.

[sabra]

40. KUSA stream: seems like they've lost the aircraft?

[Happyhippychick]

42. I can see it on MSNBC

[sabra]

44. phew - scary

[blogslut]

43. That poor little boy

Please come down safely.

[kentuck]

46. I just went out with binoculars...

I'm in the Springs but not able to see him yet.

[asdjrocky]

51. He's up there a ways now.

Looks like the camera can't find him.

[donco6]

63. Between 8 and 9000 feet.

They're hoping as he encounters cooler air, the helium will leak out faster and he'll descend (or something like that - can't always hear it)

[TwilightGardener]

69. Well...the mountains might stop him then, if he's headed that way.

Not that that's a good thing.

[donco6]

73. No he's heading SE

So toward the plains.

[TwilightGardener]

81. Oh. Not much to hit there, at least.

[woodsprite]

76. They said it has the capacity to fly to 10K feet.

Is the little boy going to be able to breathe at that level? I have no idea at what level the atmosphere changes so much that it's difficult.

[TwilightGardener]

86. Yes. There are plenty of places in CO above 10,000 feet.

[donco6]

99. You can still breathe OK at 10K.

But that's the borderline.

[Richard D]

110. I've hiked to 15K.

[donco6]

120. A lot of people have trouble up there.

My cabin is at 9,900. It's pretty thin there.

[Happyhippychick]

48. I can't see it now on MSNBC

[rvablue]

52. C'mon DU....lot of smart folks out there.....FAA looking for any and all good ideas

to get that boy down!!!!!! --- on MSNBC

[Happyhippychick]

54. A large net is the best idea I think. But how to do it so high?

[A HERETIC I AM]

70. Hover a helicopter above it and use the rotor downwash to force it lower.

Start out well above it and slowly lower the helicopter to force it down.

Sounds logical to me.

[haele]

79. Paragliders?

Get a good wind and drift forcast, get a plane above and ahead of the balloon just far enough that shifts in the wind won't send the balloon too far off course, and send someone with a safety harness or several someones to intercept with the balloon as well as act as safety observers for the intercept person, and get someone in the gondola who can help the land the balloon.

Haele

[safeinOhio]

119. BLIMP only way to get close and follow

[Xicano]

238. Helicopter up a special forces sky diver and have him attempt to fly to the boy on a parachute.

That would be my first idea.

[Skidmore]

53. What kind of media do we have that will broadcast this?

Live no less? It's like a bunch of vultures.

[KansDem]

91. And idiots as well...

I had MSNBC on only a few moments before one of the "reporters" said the balloon looked like a UFO. :wtf: What does a UFO look like? Maybe she's taken a ride in one once...

Such drivel. I grow tired listening to all the mindless speculation these morons spew.

[951-Riverside]

103. They're broadcasting because people like you watch it n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

56. They cut into the local news here as well.

This is horrible. How in the world can they get this boy back safe?

[rvablue]

74. While I usually don't like things like this broadcast live, in this case I feel

differently and I'm glad as many eyes are seeing this as possible.

The FAA has called for any and all ideas on how to get this thing down. I'm sure there are hobbyists all over the US who are flooding them with calls now.

Hopefully, someone will have a strike of brilliance!

[kentuck]

58. If there are other balloons in the path...

they could go up and try to intercept with ropes hanging down. Otherwise, I don't know....

[RedCloud]

66. By Jove! that's the solution. get another balloon or two up there!

[Parker CA]

72. They said it's flying too fast to catch it. Helicopters hopefully can be a part of a solution.

[Codeine]

85. Balloons travel at the speed of the wind.

They'd all be travelling at the same speed. How do they catch it? Balloons can't steer or intercept or speed up or slow down.

[kentuck]

158. Sorry..

Just thinking about how they might rescue him.

[elleng]

59. Can't imagine vehicle that could catch it.

May just have to let helium escape > > >

[RedCloud]

62. Homefront says it is over 7,000 feet up now.

Please put more details for those trapped in their salt mines. They need to put some weighted bags in there to bring it down.

[eShirl]

82. I hope it doesn't get too cold for him at that altitude

:(

[Codeine]

93. It almost certainly is; I heard it was at 8500 ft at one point.

It will be fairly miraculous if he survives. :(

[AngryAmish]

64. OK. I was just watching on MSNBC online.

No more watxhing for me, tho. I don't want to sit there gawking as a child falls to his death.

Stupid father and mother for even trying to make that thing in the backyard.

[snagglepuss]

67. Here picture of the "homemade flying saucer" connected to a large helium balloon

It can rise as high as 10,000 ft.. I suppose at the level child would fall unconscious:(

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/year-boy-floats-homemade-flying-saucer/story?id=8837704

[TwilightGardener]

77. No--unless you fall unconscious when you drive over Colorado's

mountain passes on I-70. Hypothermia is a bigger danger.

[donco6]

71. Approaching DIA now.

heading southeast about 25 mph. Soon to encounter slower wind speeds.

[mikelgb]

75. crazy

[Shell Beau]

83. That scares me so bad for that little boy.

And I know his parents are beside themselves.

[Blue-Jay]

84. Whoa!

I hope this turns out well.

[seafan]

87. Someone will have to parachute down, if already not too high, to get control of it.

And/or drop a line to an aircraft below to tow it down. Easier said than done....

[Parker CA]

97. There are already two long lines trailing it. Maybe someone could skydive down and somehow

grasp one of the lines? No clue. Maybe I've watched too many movies.

[seafan]

124. Just a couple of nights ago I saw a TV program on "the bird men" jumping off cliffs in Norway.

Think it was Discovery channel.


They were wearing special orange suits with web-like material connecting the spaces between the arms and body and the space between the two legs. They were able to fly around under their own directional control, and then when they were ready, pull the ripcord to their parachutes and come down.


It's going to take some skydivers, imho.

[rvablue]

141. Undoubtedly there are some local brave souls

suited up and standing at the ready to do this.

One would think the Air Force would have some trained to do this too.

[Parker CA]

143. Exactly what I was envisioning. Much easier said than done though, I'm sure.

[undeterred]

172. Bingo! A sky diver!

That's the only thing I could think of that might work. Someone who could grab the ballon and then open his parachute...

[SIMPLYB1980]

88. I hope this ends well. nt

[closeupready]

89. I think the most important thing is to make sure he stays calm.

Not sure how to even do that, but there has to be a way of communicating to him.

[Shell Beau]

96. How?

[donco6]

90. Falcon Heene

little boy's name

[vanlassie]

98. Are you kidding? His name is FALCON?

[donco6]

102. honest - just heard it. n/t

[Blue Diadem]

104. There was a heene family from Colorado on wife swap, with a child named Falcon.

http://abc.go.com/shows/wife-swap/episode-guide/heenemartel/132697

Storm chasers.

[TwilightGardener]

107. Get out! That has to be them!

[soleft]

109. I would think that would have to be him -

[rvablue]

112. Miami and Richard Hangey ---- parent's names. n/t

[brendan120678]

123. Mayumi, not Miami...

according to 9news.com.

[Blue Diadem]

133. Mayumi and Richard Heene(prounced hainey)

MSNBC confirmed storm chasers. I suspect they are the family.

[rvablue]

145. Little doubt about that now. Thanks for the correction. Was just jotting it phonetically. n/t

[wicket]

117. Jaw on the floor here

:wow:

[Walk away]

152. This guy seems to think it's OK to risk his family anyway...

"The Heene family from Colorado live life on the edge. Wife Mayumi (43) and storm scientist Richard (45) take their three kids, Bradford (8), Ryo (7) and Falcon (5), out of school to go on storm chasing missions to prove Richard's theories about magnetic fields and gravity. "

[TwilightGardener]

159. Bet they wish their kids had just been in school today. School keeps kids

out of trouble, goshdarnit!

[renate]

155. Oh. My. God. Did you read about the family they swapped with?

To be 100% clear--this isn't the kid's father (as will become clear), this is the father of the family they swapped with.

"Meanwhile on a quiet street in Connecticut, the Martel family -- wife Karen (43), husband Jay (50) and their two kids, Max (11) and Dean (10) -- live a life of calm and safety. Dad is so committed to safety that he runs a child-proofing business devoted to identifying dangers and risks and making sure kids stay out of harm's way."

It would be impossible to make this stuff up.

[seafan]

225. This is just now confirmed on msnbc. n/t

[RedCloud]

229. Ironically other family quoted as "never letting kids out of sight"

Please don't let those be famous last words.

[amerikat]

95. BB gun?

Really they need to start venting the helium. It's to cold for
that kid. they need to get him down soon.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

100. I was thinking a catapult filled with staplers.

I don't know if the national guard has that many staplers.

[Parker CA]

105. They mentioned that on MSNBC, but didn't say much more.

[liberal N proud]

106. Live feed KTLA

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-tivid-livestream-b,0,1174195.tividlivestream

[Drunken Irishman]

108. They're saying little boy could have fallen out.

[jeffrey_X]

114. fuck...that is horrible

:(

[Parker CA]

121. MSNBC showing the press conference just said they know he's in the basket, but that

the balloon was never made to carry people at all!! WTF??

[Drunken Irishman]

132. This whole thing doesn't make sense...

How did he get in? Why would the parents just have that laying around knowing how easy it is to shoot up?

[Parker CA]

151. No clue. Dad is a storm chaser. It was tethered in the backyard and somehow the kid

got in and got it untethered. Other sibling went inside to tell parents the kid took off. Bizarre indeed.

[kentuck]

113. They need people on the ground....a crowd to follow it.

Perhaps a bunch of people could bring it down if they grab the ropes??

[vadawg]

127. i thought it was at 8000ft?????

[kentuck]

134. When it comes down...

within reach. Hopefully it will come down slowly?

[vadawg]

144. okay i had wierd visions for a bit there.....

[donco6]

115. Nat'l Guard working on a plan.

Father is assisting.

Heading east on I-76, balloon is descending. Two helicopters with eye on it. Family is Miami and Richard Heene. Family project they were working on. Little capsule the child is in is very small and not attached really well. Two boys were outside, one brother watched the other brother get inside and the balloon floated away.

[Brother Buzz]

Larry Walters, nicknamed "Lawnchair Larry" suggests, "BB Gun".

[azmouse]

116. The news is saying the compartment containing the boy isn't attached very well.

Oh dear God!

[sabra]

118. Police saying he's in a little basket that wasn't even intended for some one to be in

:scary:

[Cass]

122. Police officer on MSNBC says the compartment is not attached to balloon very well.

OMG. This poor little boy.

[City Lights]

126. I cannot believe what I'm seeing.

:wow:

I'm glued to the teevee, hoping for the best. :scared:

[Walk away]

128. They just reported on MSNBC that the compartment the boy is in...

is very small and not attached very well. That may be why they have to be so careful. The section he is in can easily fall right off.

[azmouse]

129. It looks like some of the balloon is deflating.

[Cali_Democrat]

138. That's a good thing? Right?

Now the boy can come down safely instead of rising to 10,000 feet?

[azmouse]

140. It's really scary looking because the balloon is tipping on its side.

And it is reported that the balloon is coming down slightly.

[ecstatic]

148. Guy on CNN said the way it's tilted makes him think that nobody is aboard

that if a child was on board, the craft would be more vertical.

[azmouse]

156. It's tilted from the loss of helium in one part of the balloon.

The child is in the bottom section. They're now saying some of the movement may be from the boy moving around.

[gkhouston]

164. 6 year olds don't weigh much. That's a big balloon. n/t

[SidDithers]

161. Hope it's not venting helium into the passenger compartment...nt

Sid

[azmouse]

162. There is probably plenty of air moving through the small compartment.

I hope.

[rvablue]

130. Oh dear lord....one side is really losing helium......!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[BlueIris]

136. Possibly the most insane story I can remember in some time. Good luck to little Falcon. nt

[rvablue]

137. Expert says sun warms the helium and makes balloon rise..... n/t

[A HERETIC I AM]

153. That 6th grade bit of science to an "expert" to relay?

Wow.

[Libertas1776]

142. Part of the craft

seems to be deflating. I hope it lands safely.

[Drunken Irishman]

146. Guy on CNN (balloon expert) says tilting of balloon might suggest no one inside the basket.

[G_j]

147. scary, ( I hate those banners at the bottom the screen)..nt

[kid a]

149. Per CNN...boy may not be in balloon, may have fallen out before lift off

[renate]

160. it doesn't look like a mylar balloon that has anything in it

Wouldn't it look and move differently if there were a big contrast between the weight of the balloon and the weight of its load?

[ronnykmarshall]

167. Where is he then?

Why would the parents report him in the ballon?

[kentuck]

154. Judging from the present temperature right now...

I would guess the temp at 8-10,000 feet is nearing freezing. I am in the Springs.

[Cass]

157. MSNBC says boy moving around in the basket could cause it to tip like this.

[Drunken Irishman]

163. Balloon may have landed...emergency crews on the scene.

[Drunken Irishman]

165. But it didn't...still up there...

At about 1,000 feet now.

[rvablue]

168. MSNBC switched to local affiliate. It's still in the air but now only at 500 ft. n/t

[jeffbr]

166. Let the helium leak out _slowly_ and follow it

That seems to be the best strategy right now....

[Parker CA]

169. Balloon is now only 500 feet above the ground. Oh man.

[rvablue]

171. Family built research gallery to extraterrestials

via MSNBC.

[renate]

173. just occurred to me... this thing looks totally sealed

Maybe all the concerns about hypoxia are overly optimistic... if it's sealed tight, it doesn't matter how much oxygen is in the air up there. (And I say "optimistic" because that basket doesn't look very big. I assume the basket is sealed off from the balloon, since it wouldn't be designed for anybody to be breathing helium for any length of time.)

[Beaverhausen]

175. someone on MSNBC wondered if the boy is breathing helium

[snagglepuss]

174. Ballon expert says says the little boy inside might not be uncomfortable at all.

He's probably moving back and forth a little bit. Since you're floating along with the breeze it's very smooth and fairly calm. He's probably cold but a smooth ride," Campbell said.

Aviation Expert Greg Feith spoke to 9NEWS about the process of rescuing the boy.

"It is an unusual event and the big thing now is trying to get that child down from this balloon. It's all going to depend on of course the environment. It's windy outside so it's going to keep it adrift for quite a while. The helium, depending on the size of this thing, if it ran into very cold air, it may help it come down as you know if you let a helium balloon go the higher it gets it'll stagnate only because of the cold air," Feith said.

Feith added that without knowing the structural integrity of the aircraft it is difficult to know how it will withstand any turbulence.


more at http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=125161&catid=339#

[Walk away]

180. It's down!

[jeffbr]

184. Cops are stabbing it like a beast

[rvablue]

176. Landed! Tamron Hall said landing seemed soft. Gentle descent described

by balloon expert!

Hopefully, good news!

[Parker CA]

177. Wow. Soft landing in a field. Tons of people on the scene. Hopefully he's in there and okay!

[Parker CA]

182. Where's the kid??? People all around, but no kid so far. WTF??

[SidDithers]

178. It's down softly...nt

Sid

[Cass]

179. He landed!!

[ronnykmarshall]

183. But is he in there?

[Cass]

194. Oh no ! they say compartment is empty.

[taterguy]

248. OMG

[rvablue]

181. What's with the shovels? n/t

[SallyMander]

185. Yeah, what's going on?? And where is he? nt

[ronnykmarshall]

187. He's not in there.

[brendan120678]

190. Not in there, apparently. (nt)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

186. They're covering it with dirt so it won't lift off again.

Either that, or they're burying the aliens so the news cameras won't see.

[snagglepuss]

195. Why not puncture it? Americans shoot at everything else why not a balloon?

[taterguy]

249. Shoot it with what?

[Parker CA]

191. It's looking like the kid isn't in the balloon. Very odd. Reporting kid NOT IN the balloon. ???

[rvablue]

188. Doesnt' look like the kid is in the balloon. They seem to be tossing it around.

Oh. No.


Prayers that the kid is OK.

[cbdo2007]

189. DARN KIDS!!!

[City of Mills]

192. Weird, don't think he's in there

...where's he hiding?

[Parker CA]

198. Hopefully this is a horribly thought out hoax and the child didn't fall out somewhere.

[brendan120678]

201. Maybe he ran and hid after accidentally setting the balloon free?

Afraid that he'll get in trouble for ruining Dad's science experiment.

With all the cops that probably showed up around his house, he got REALLY scared?

[BlueIris]

193. Not looking good that he's in there.

Best of luck to child wherever he is.

[cbdo2007]

197. He probably entered a wormhole somewhere...He could be to Vega by now!

[BlueIris]

203. Cute.

You do realize he could be deceased, right?

[snagglepuss]

209. Exactly. Making light of this potentially tragic situation is contemptible. nt

[Drunken Irishman]

213. Or maybe it's people's way of coping with scary events...

Instead of freaking out, especially knowing there is nothing we can do.

[cbdo2007]

234. Come on...it's no worse than all of the other speculation being posted.

Maybe he was on the balloon and fell out or it was going to crash with him on it or maybe he just let it go and ran to hide or maybe his dad set it up as a hoax to promote the Wifeswap tv show or maybe the dad beat him and set this up to cover that up or maybe...or maybe...or maybe...

Speculation is ALL equally ridiculous so if you take any of it too seriously maybe you should take a break from the computer/tv for awhile.

[rvablue]

196. Photog at scene: Nobody inside the balloon.

Did he fall out.

Or as media is speculating: "is this an attempt at publicity."

[Blue_In_AK]

200. Maybe the kid accidentally set it loose

and is hiding now because he's afraid he'll get in trouble. I can see that being a possibility.

[rvablue]

206. One can only hope. They said on TV they are now searching the neighborhood. n/t

[RedCloud]

maybe he ran off chasing it?

[snagglepuss]

211. That seems very possible. I hope your right. nt

[snagglepuss]

207. If its for publicity, I hope they're either imprisoned or fined up the wazoo.

What a waste of resources. I just hope the child didn't fall out.

[SidDithers]

199. No child in the balloon...nt

Sid

[spanone]

204. he either fell out or the media got rickrolled! i hope he didn't fall out.

[ohheckyeah]

202. Police said no one is inside the balloon. n/t

[Drunken Irishman]

205. Obviously this was a time machine...

And he's now in 13th Century China.

[snagglepuss]

208. Not funny, A child could be dead. nt

[Drunken Irishman]

210. Or in 13th Century China...

We'll wait and see who's right. I hope it's me.

[brendan120678]

215. LOL...although China in the 1200's wasn't that great a place...

what with a Mongol invasion and all.

[rvablue]

212. KICKING as I don't understand why others need to start new threads.

It would be sufficient and efficient to put further comments on this thread!!!!!!!!

[seafan]

214. Is this a possible prank? Just heard that this child's brother is who stated that Falcon got in it.

Don't know the age of the brother. They were out of school today for another reason, according to msnbc.


Very distressing story on all fronts.

[joeybee12]

216. I pray the kid released it, got scared, and ran and hid when he realized

what he did.

[Blue_In_AK]

217. I can't imagine it being a prank.

I think it's most likely the kid was playing around, accidentally set it loose and is now scared shitless that he's going to be grounded for life.

At least I hope that's the case. It would be horrible if he fell or jumped out.

[Drunken Irishman]

218. I think the boy let the balloon loose and panicked...

So he took off and is now hiding, fearing he would get in trouble.

[ecstatic]

223. Officials say the bottom of the balloon was not breached

and they don't think anyone was ever in the craft. If it is a prank, those parents are going to owe a ton of money.

[girl gone mad]

230. Possibly covering up..

a crime?

Something is not right.

[ecstatic]

231. I thought about that possibility too nt

[City Lights]

224. I heard earlier that the cops searched the house looking for boy in case the

brother was mistaken or making it up.

[seafan]

228. 3 brothers--~10, ~8; Falcon is 6. Brothers could not tell investigators what Falcon was wearing.

Supposedly one of the brothers was the only eyewitness to Falcon's being in the balloon.

msnbc is reporting these details.

[kentuck]

219. They haven't found the kid?

We don't know where he is?

[rvablue]

220. NOPE. n/t

[Drunken Irishman]

221. No and no.

[undeterred]

222. It seems that aliens snatched him when he was at 10,000 feet.

:shrug: They figured nobody down here was looking after him.

[woodsprite]

226. OK - I've been in/out of this thread. Did this last just long

enough to interfere and overpower Obama's NOLA press conference?

That being said, I'm with you all and hope the little boy ran off and hid after realizing he let the balloon loose. Maybe he was afraid of how his dad would react. Right now, that seems like the best possible outcome to this story. I keep thinking about my little boy, and I really think he'd run and hide if he did something like wrecking his dad's pet project.

[brendan120678]

232. My dad liked to experiment and tinker with tools and electronics, and I know...

that if I destroyed one of his pet projects accidentally, I sure as hell would have run away as fast as possible and hidden somewhere.

[polichick]

227. Wow, a great landing and then no child. I hope the kids were just kidding...

...and Falcon is safe somewhere.

[rvablue]

233. NEIGHBOR: Mother distraught and father in a panic after balloon launched

ergo this probably isn't a hoax.

Let's just hope that kid is hiding at the local playground or something.....cause it doesn't look like a publicity stunt with this description.

[Parker CA]

235. Apparently a box-shaped piece was attached to the bottom that is no longer there.

Ground search going on right now in two counties, Fort Collins and one other for the boy. This isn't sounding good at all.

[GreenPartyVoter]

237. This sounds like it is going to end very badly. :^(

[taterguy]

247. You're right. It couldn't possibly be a hoax

[spanone]

236. family says there was a 2nd compartment that is missing......ugh

[JBoy]

239. CNN reporting boy climbed into a box attached to the bottom of the balloon.

[kentuck]

240. Surreal..

?!?!?

[taterguy]

241. Did they ever find the poor little boy?

[JTFrog]

242. Hiding in a box in the attic.

My favorite quote in the story:

Falcon answered, "You had said that we did this for a show."

Later, Richard Heene bristled when the family was asked to clarify and said he didn't know what his son meant. He didn't ask his son what he meant by "a show".

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33340547/ns/us_news-life/

[taterguy]

244. I would go hide somewhere if I suffered through an ordeal like that

[RichGirl]

243. IT WAS A HOAX

The little boy told CNN "We did it for the show".....as his father squirmed uncomfortably. I saw the "Wife Swap" they were on and immediately thought is was a grand scheme for another 15 minutes. The father is mentally ill. They should pay back all the money spent and he should go to jail...or the loony bin. He is a danger to his kids.

[NYC_SKP]

245. IS HE STILL UP THERE???111!!!

IF THIS WAS A HOAX, I TELL YA...

[taterguy]

246. If I saw a crowd like that I sure as hell wouldn't come down