Tragic crash of hot air balloons in Cappadocia: a dead, 19 injuries!

Tragic crash of hot air balloons in Cappadocia: a dead, 19 injuries!

Çavuşin, Nevşehir, Türkei - In the Turkish province of Aksaray, there was a tragic incident with hot air balloons. On June 15, 2025, two balloons crashed, with at least one person, a balloon pilot, lost his life. In addition, 19 other people were injured in this accident. The accident occurred during a flight in the Ihlara Valley, one of the most popular tourist regions in Cappadocia, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. The exact circumstances of the crash have so far been unclear and are examined by the authorities. These tragic events throw a shadow on the tourist activities in this renowned region , reports the Süddeutsche Zeitung .

Another incident occurred on the same day near the historical site Zelve, in the district of Avanos, province of Nevşehir. Here a hot air balloon started at 5:00 a.m. in the Çavuşin district with 20 tourists on board. After about an hour of flight time, the pilot decided to end the flight due to expired flight time and adverse weather conditions. The balloon landed in a controlled manner on a rocky terrain, which presented the passengers with a special challenge. They had to get out around 50 meters high in the rocks and were temporarily stuck. According to Hurriyet the passengers were from the disaster protection authority Afad and the fire brigade saved, with luckily no injuries to complain.

rescue measures and examinations

The rescue operation was necessary to bring the passengers safely into the environment below. After technical measures, the balloon was able to rise again, which shows that despite the predicament, the operators were ready to act quickly. In this context, the authorities announced an administrative examination of the incident to clarify possible security deficiencies.

The two incidents raise questions about the safety of hot air balloon trips, a popular activity in Cappadocia. Regional companies must ensure that they protect both the well -being of their guests and emphasize all the safety precautions. In view of the hundreds of tourists who travel to the region every year to experience the breathtaking landscape out of the air, the review of the security standards is of the greatest importance.