CBS Austin: FAA implements safety law, six years after Lockhart balloon tragedy

November 23, 2022

by Paige Hubbard

AUSTIN, Texas — More than six years after a hot air balloon crashed near Lockhart killing 16 people—a new law is taking effect to prevent such devastation from happening again. Federal investigators found that the pilot was under the influence at the time of the crash.

Since that 2016 crash, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D- Austin has been asking the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to strengthen requirements for pilots. After years of delays, Doggett tells CBS Austin he’s pleased the FAA is finally taking action.

“Finally, finally, after so much bureaucratic delay, it should never have taken this long,” U.S Rep. Lloyd Doggett said.

In 2016, a hot air balloon hit a power line and crashed killing 16 people near Lockhart. The crash would go down as the deadliest commercial balloon crash and worst aviation disaster in America since 2009. At the time, the pilot was under the influence of multiple medications, mimicking the effects of being drunk.

“I began working just shortly after the crash. Initially just calling on the FAA to do what the National Transportation Safety Board asked them to do,” Doggett said.

Since the crash, Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett has been pushing for the Federal Aviation Administration to require hot air balloon operators to hold a medical certificate to fly paying passengers. He eventually led the charge on bi-partisan legislation which passed in 2018. After years of failing to act Doggett says the FAA started the rulemaking process last November. Last week—they issued the final rule implementing his safety law in memory of those lost.

CBS Austin asked Congressman Doggett “Why do you think it took them so long?”

He said “I think they didn't want to do it. They were hearing from the industry, that small group that does balloon flights and advertises them for tourists all over the country, all over the world. They did not want to act. And so they held out just as long as they could.”

Doggett shared he’s disappointed in the FAA's response and as a result, more lives have been lost because of lax requirements. In September 2021-- five people were killed in Albuquerque after a hot air balloon pilot also crashed into powerlines. Toxicology reports found the operator had cocaine and THC in his system.

“We saw those deaths in Lockhart. We've seen deaths in Albuquerque. Hopefully, the fact they finally put this in place will reduce the possibility of deaths from an impaired pilot in the future,” said Doggett.

To read the FAA’s response, click here.