(AFP PHOTO/STR)
A fuel leak was found to be the cause of last year’s hot air balloon crash near Luxor on 26 February that left 19 killed, according to a report issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry said that the report is based on an investigation conducted by a delegated technical committee, state television reported.
The report speculated that a fuel leak led the balloon to catch fire, gravely injuring the pilot, who fell off the balloon as a result. The fire then caused the balloon to crash.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation formed a committee of engineers to investigate the site of the crash shortly after it occurred. After the report was out, a set of safety recommendations and precautions were issued to civil aviation authorities and balloon producers to ensure that the incident would not occur again.
The crash led authorities to cancel all hot air balloon rides for two months.
