NBC/Fox: Families of balloon crash victims petition White House to increase oversight

SAN ANTONIO - The families of those killed in a hot air balloon crash last July in Lockhart are pressuring the White House to improve oversight on commercial ballooning.

The victims' families want the Federal Aviation Administration to require hot air balloon pilots to take the same drug tests and medical exams and helicopter and airline pilots. In fact, they've started a petition on the White House website.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot involved in the crash, Alfred 'Skip' Nichols, had a history of drunken driving offenses and had marked 'no' on FAA medical certification records.

The FAA decided not to take action against Nichols and instead sent him a warning.

"Had the Federal Aviation Administration done its job and responded to the safety recommendations, I don't think this would have ever happened," said U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett. "So I want to do everything that I can to support the petition to demand action from the FAA."

The NTSB says tests show Nichols also had several different prescription drugs in his system, including oxycodone and a muscle relaxer when the balloon crashed.

If the petition gathers 100,000 signatures by June 16, 2017, the White House will respond. If you would like to read the petition, click here.