Ballon Boy, Falcon Heene Found Alive
October 16th, 2009 | by |
FORT COLLINS. Colo. – A 6-year-old boy was found hiding at home Thursday, hours after the runaway flight of his family’s experimental balloon riveted the nation and led to a frantic search by authorities who feared the child was aboard the craft.
More than two hours after the balloon gently touched down in a field with no sign of the boy, Sheriff Jim Alderden turned to reporters during a news conference, gave a thumbs up and said 6-year-old Falcon Heene was “at the house.”
“Apparently the boy’s been there the whole time. He’s been hiding in a cardboard box in the attic above the garage,” Alderden said.
“I don’t want to conjecture but this is not first time we are searching for a kid and once he realizes everyone is looking for him he hides because he’s afraid of getting in trouble.”
One of boy’s older brothers had initially told authorities he saw his brother climb into a box compartment attached to the bottom of the balloon before it became untethered and took off.
“He was very adamant. That was his consistent story,” the sheriff said.
The family, which appeared twice on a reality television show about households that swap wives, spoke to reporters outside their home after being reunited with Falcon.
Scolded, then missing
The boy’s father, Richard Heene, said the family was tinkering with the balloon Thursday morning and that he scolded Falcon for getting inside a compartment on the craft. He said Falcon’s brother had seen him inside the compartment before it took off and that’s why they thought he was in there when it launched.
But the boy fled to the attic at some point after the scolding and was never in the balloon during its 50-mile journey through two counties. “I yelled at him. I’m really sorry I yelled at him,” Heene said as he hugged his son during a news conference
“I was in the attic and he scared me because he yelled at me,” Falcon said. “That’s why I went in the attic.”
During his time in hiding, Falcon said he played with his toys and took a nap. He said he finally got up because he was bored.
Richard Heene adamantly denied the notion that the whole thing was a big publicity stunt. “That’s horrible after the crap we just went through. No.”
The sheriff said he would meet with investigators on Friday to see if the case warranted further investigation.
“As this point there’s no indication that this was a hoax,” Alderden said.
 |
|
The Heene family’s experimental balloon craft came down in a Colorado field without anyone on board.
|
The discovery of the boy marked a bizarre end to a saga that started when the giant silvery balloon floated away from the family’s yard Thursday, sparking a frantic rescue operation that involved military helicopters and briefly shut down Denver International Airport.
The balloon’s two-hour flight played out live on television, captivating viewers across the country. The balloon rotated slowly in the wind, tipping precariously at times, during its journey before coming down in a dirt field in neighboring Weld County, roughly 50 miles away from where it took off.
Deputies rushed to the scene and corralled and deflated the balloon but found no sign of the boy. There were fears the box compartment had separated from the main apparatus during its flight. Several people reported seeing something fall from the craft while it was in the air.
With Falcon nowhere in sight, investigators frantically searched the ground along the balloon’s path.
Flying saucer?
The boy’s family had been building a helium-balloon craft that was kept tethered in the backyard of their home. The craft, which resembled a silver flying saucer, was approximately 20 feet across by 5 feet high.
 |
On Thursday morning, Falcon was playing outside with one of his two older brothers when the older boy said he saw the younger one go into a box at the bottom of the balloon, said Cathy Davis of the sheriff’s department.
Kevin Kuretich, of the Colorado Division of Emergency Management, said the craft had some kind of electric power unit which was run by double-C batteries. He said the balloon did seem to be big enough to carry a 6-year-old.
The craft somehow became loose and the balloon took off. It was airborne for more than two hours and glided through two counties.
“This balloon was never meant to actually carry anybody. It was just a family project they were working on,” a Fort Collins police spokesperson told reporters.
Richard Heene said the balloon apparently “wasn’t tethered properly” but it was unclear if the release was accidental.
‘Big round balloonish thing’
Several people in the neighborhood saw the aircraft floating over their homes, and some snapped pictures.
Tags: ballon boy, balloon, balloon boy colorado, balloon boy found, cnn, falcon heene
By Corey on Oct 16, 2009
Too bad the whole thing was a publicity stunt by the parents. Here’s the proof!!!
http://perezhilton.com/2009-10-15-balloon-boy-confesses-it-was-for-the-show
These people should be arrested!
By Kishore on Oct 16, 2009
This is ridiculous!!! This family should return the tax payer’s money that’s spent searching for the “missing” boy!
By BillRM on Oct 16, 2009
Come on CNN this tiny balloon could not lift more then 35 pounds by simple math so this is on face seem to be a hoax.
By Robert Haas on Oct 16, 2009
I think the little boy should have a very strong “talking to”, and so should his parents. Who is going to pay for the search and rescue team’s salaries? He is a very cute kid, and only a little boy at that, but his parents seem to have their heads in the clouds. At 6, My Mom and Dad had already instilled in us the idea that we were to “play in full sight” of the house.
By Phyllis on Oct 16, 2009
Give the kid and his parents a break.
It is obvious the kids are loved, bright and active kids. They are not on the streets shooting at others, robbing or raping girls. They are learning to be curious thinking people. We grew up on a farm, climbing silos, driving tractors and milking cows. Dangerous….yes. But we learned to take care of ourselves and grew up to be hard working, responsible and productive people.
By edward on Oct 16, 2009
The balloon looked pretty cool in flight. It seemed to be moving quite fast.
By Marco on Oct 16, 2009
Sorry to say but: WHAT MORON HAS A BALLOON AT THEIR HOUSE! that a kid can get in and fly off?
The parents should be brought to answer for all of this and the cost of the search. Idiots!
By edward on Oct 16, 2009
If the whole thing was a true accident and not a publicity stunt, it would be relatively easy prove.
1. Examine the craft and see if the boy could have gotten inside it. The round part at the bottom seems a little small for him, but I’m going by the video shots of it.
2. Put in a couple bags of kitty litter that match the boy’s weight and see if the balloon is able to take off.
Circumstantial, but it would support the parent’s claim that they really didn’t know if the kid was inside it or not.