A hot-air balloon crash that killed five in New Mexico two years ago was partially caused by the pilot’s use of cocaine and cannabis, federal investigators have found.
Aired by The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Friday, the ruling comes nearly 26 months removed from the deaths of longtime balloonist Nicholas Meleski, 62, and two couples he had been tasked with transporting.
All died from blunt-force trauma, federal transportation officials discerned – after the balloon struck power lines and crashed into a busy Albuquerque intersection in June 2021.
The fatal maneuver – which came while Meleski was trying to land – saw the balloon’s basket detach in midair, and fall roughly a hundred feet.
A toxicology report had already revealed Meleski was under the influence of the illegal drugs, though officials have now discerned the pilot’s intoxication played a part in the incident.
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Aired by The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Friday, the ruling comes nearly 26 months removed from the deaths of longtime balloonist Nicholas Meleski, 62, and two couples he had been tasked with transporting. It found cocaine and marijuana in his system suggested ‘recent use’ that would have likely had ‘impairing effects’ that led to the June 2021 crash
The crash happened on June 26, 2021, at the the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, while Meleski was trying to land the aircraft. Instead, Meleski – a seasoned pilot who participated in the event for decades – struck a series of powerlines before plummeting down
The amounts of cocaine and marijuana found in his system suggested ‘recent use’, feds in their final report involving the incident stated – that would have likely had ‘impairing effects’ that contributed to the crash.
Among the victims were former Albuquerque Police Officer Martin Martinez, 59, and his wife, 62-year-old Mary Martinez, as well as 65-year-old elementary school principal Susan Montoya and her husband John, who was 61.
All attended the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on June 26, 2021, under the impression they were taking part in one of the event’s trademark balloon rides, for which they paid hundreds of dollars.
Teachers and co-workers had chipped in to foot the bill for Montoya, who for years served as an assistant principal at Georgia O’Keeffe Elementary School and at the time had pegged a lofty balloon ride as being on her bucket list.
Once the funds were raised, the ticket was offered as a going-away gift as she prepared to transfer to another school.
Montoya would go on to invite her husband along for the ride, as well as a couple they were friendly with, in the Martinezes.
A retired Albuquerque police officer and sergeant in the Albuquerque Public Schools Police Department, Martin, along with wife Mary, happily obliged and were in the basket later that day for an early-morning liftoff.
Pegged for just after sunrise, the air excursion’s outset at first occurred without a hitch – with Meleski, a pilot who had presided over such flights for decades, in charge of the ordeal.
Among the victims were 65-year-old school principal Susan Montoya and husband John, 61, and former Albuquerque Police Officer Martin Martinez, 59, and his wife, 62-year-old Mary Martinez. Teachers and co-workers had chipped in to foot the bill for Montoya, who then invited her husband and two friends. All died of blunt force trauma from the 100-foot fall
The basket of a hot air balloon lies on the pavement after a crash landing in Albuquerque, N.M., Saturday, June 26, 2021
The force of the impact killed all on board, with the basket carrying the five-person party separating while the balloon itself drifted off. All died from blunt-force trauma, federal transportation officials eventually discerned
Federal investigators’ probe into the incident would go on for years – with a toxicology report obtained from a Meleski urine sample revealing months later that he had both marijuana and cocaine in his system at the time of his death.
At the time – in the wake of the crash that would occur within the hour – fellow balloonists left in awe by what had happened remarked how Meleski had flown thousands of hours in New Mexico and locales worldwide.
Following commonly accepted FAA protocols – which do not require drug testing but vets balloon pilots for months beforehand – the aircraft operator took off as scheduled, with his four passengers in tow.
Initially, the ride went as planned, with Meleski’s balloon gently hovering hundreds of feet over the festivities, before descending back down to attempt a landing.
That’s when, to the horror of hundreds of onlookers below, things went awry.
As the balloon descended in the sky above Albuquerque, it came into contact with power lines near Central and Unser NW, detaching the gondola and causing it to come down in a busy stretch of traffic.
Federal investigators who authored the report released over the weekend – the last to be released in relation to the case – linked that presence to a mistake made by the pilot during his descent, saying he did not maintain enough clearance from power lines while trying to land
At the time – in the wake of the crash that would occur within the hour – fellow balloonists left in awe by what had happened remarked how Meleski had flown thousands of hours in New Mexico and locales worldwide
The basket is seen on the ground in the busy street with victims lying close by as emergency crews respond to the scene. Families of the four passengers have yet to comment on the recent revelation – feds’ last in relation to the 26-month-old case
The aircraft came down on a street corner in the West Side neighborhood of Albuquerque around 7am, about six miles from Albuquerque International Sunport Airport
Seen here are the power lines that Meleski struck during the excursion, which caused the balloon’s gondola to detach and fall about 100 feet
The force of the impact killed all on board, with the basket carrying the five-person party separating while the balloon itself drifted off.
Federal investigators’ probe into the incident would go on for years – with a toxicology report obtained from a Meleski urine sample revealing months later that he had both marijuana and cocaine in his system at the time of his death.
Federal investigators who authored the report released over the weekend – the last to be released in relation to the case – linked that presence to a mistake made by the pilot during his descent, saying he did not maintain enough clearance from power lines while trying to land.
The statement likely did little to satisfy the families of the unsuspecting passengers who died, at least in part, as a result of Meleski’s actions, but did spur a somewhat apologetic statement from the family of the guilty party.
Meleski’s family published this statement in the wake of the NTSB’s announcement: ‘We thank the National Transportation Safety Board for the effort and time spent on the investigation of the tragic accident.
‘We cannot express the depth of our grief and sadness for the pain this accident has caused — our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of the passengers,’ it continued.
A friend of the victims is comforted at the scene of the fatal hot air balloon crash
Albuquerque Police, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board had been investigating the incident
Emergency crews on the scene of the deadly crash are seen hiding victims lying by the hot air balloon basket. Officials said the balloon crash was the deadliest in New Mexico´s history and the second deadliest in the U.S. since 2016
‘We want to also thank the entire hot air ballooning community of New Mexico and across the world.
‘The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming and we continue to grieve with you. Nick loved this community so dearly, and our family will continue to support the sport any way we can.’
Meanwhile, Martin Martinez is still being hailed for his work as a police officer, first for the city of Albuquerque and later for its public school system.
His wife Mary, a mother of two, is remembered for her love of helping people. Montoya and her husband have been similarly hailed for their work with local special education students.
Federal officials said the balloon crash was the deadliest in New Mexico´s history and the second deadliest in the U.S. since 2016. The festival where it happened commonly draws hundreds of pilots and tens of thousands of spectators each year.