Search for balloonists in Adriatic Sea

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Night has fallen over the Adriatic Sea with search parties finding no sign of balloonist-race competitors Richard Abruzzo of Albuquerque and Carol Rymer Davis of Denver who were last heard from just before midnight Tuesday night New Mexico time.

Abruzzo and Davis were participating in the Gordon Bennett International Gas Balloon Race when they lost contact with race control in England. Officials are worried they went down in the Adriatic Sea.  (See below for latest statement and contact details from race officials.)

"We are very concerned, but can only wait for news now," said the official statement from the Gordon Bennett International Gas Balloon Race website.

The race started Saturday and race control lost contact with the balloonists at midnight on Wednesday. Early on Wednesday, three out of the original 20 balloons were still flying. But, the 16 other balloons had reportedly landed safely.

"The Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre have initiated an operation with a helicopter and fast boat although no ELT activation has been detected so far," said the Gordon Bennett website. ELT is another word for a distress radio beacon.

Thunderstorms were detected in the area where the authorities suspect the balloonists went down.

Abruzzo and Davis won the Gordon Bennett race in 2004. They were the first American winners in five years.

The ex-governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, was scheduled to fly with Abruzzo in the America's Challenge in the 2010 Balloon Fiesta.

Members of the balloon community in Albuquerque planned a balloonlight vigil for Abruzzo and Davis at sunset on Wednesday.

Statement from Gordon Bennett 2010 Race Control at 19:00 GMT (1 p.m. MDT):

PRESS RELEASE WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2010

News Announcement 19.00 GMT, Gordon Bennett Control Centre

The balloon flying in the Gordon Bennett race designated USA2, registration
N801NM is still missing as night falls. The pilots are American citizens,
Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer-Davis.

At 05.58Z this morning (29th September) we received the last signal from the
tracker device, which normally gives us the balloon position every 15
minutes. This position is shown on the web site www.gordonbennett2010.com .

We were contacted around that time also by Brindisi Air Traffic Control who
had lost contact with the balloon. Mr. Luc Trullemans, meteorologist, has
had a conversation with one of the pilots at 06.05Z. No contact has been
established since.

The balloon is equipped with satellite telephone, VHF
radios, radar transponder and two mobile telephones. It has not been
possible to make contact on any of these. Thunderstorms were present in the
area.

A search and rescue operation has been launched by the Italian Maritime
Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) involving several aircraft and a fast
patrol boat. The Croatian authorities and all shipping in the area have also
been notified. Nothing has been found so far and no signal has been detected
from the Emergency Location Transmitter, which should activate on contact
with water.

We have been able to supply the MRCC with some information on
the safety equipment carried and technical aspects of the balloon. The
balloon is equipped with survival suits, lifejackets and two single-person
life rafts.

Nineteen other balloons were flying in the event and we have confirmation
that all of these have landed safely and all other pilots are safe and well.

We are hoping that good news will come, but are becoming increasingly
concerned as nightfall approaches. We are in close contact with Richard and
Carol’s families.

The search will be scaled down overnight, but will be resumed at first
light. There will be no further bulletins until the search resumes tomorrow.

Don Cameron
Flight Director
54th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett

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