October 16th, 2009 
weldamfm 
Heene Family Photo
Falcon Heene, a 6 year-old boy from Colorado, climbed into an experimental balloon aircraft that finally landed hours later. The little boy in the balloon is nowhere to be found. Read more on the boy in balloon and see video of the scary incident below.
Falcon Heene, 6, accidentally was carried away alone in a homemade experimental aircraft that could go up to 10,000 feet. The balloon has landed and little Falcon Heene is not inside the balloon. Police are wondering if the boy may have fallen out before the balloon landed.
The latest on the “Balloon Boy” from the Associated Press:
A Colorado sheriff’s official says a 6-year-old boy climbed into a box that was attached to a homemade balloon, but the box wasn’t found when the craft crashed.
Kathy Messick, Larimer County sheriff’s spokeswoman, says one of the boy’s brothers saw him get into the box or basket, which was attached with pegs.
She says search teams are scouring the area from the house in the direction that the balloon flew. The craft was airborne for more than two hours and glided through two countries.
Messick says investigators are looking into every possibility, including whether the boy was ever in the balloon.
She described the boy, Falcon, as 3 feet tall with dark hair, and said his parents are “very traumatized.”
The New York Times reported:
Falcon Heene was not found in the balloon, and now officials believe that there is a possibility that Falcon could be hiding in the Fort Collins neighborhood, in fear of recriminations.
“That’s good news and that’s bad news,” said Erik Nilsson, the Larimer County Emergency manager said in a telephone interview.
“He was no longer in danger from a balloon crash. The bad news is we don’t know where he is.”
Mr. Nilsson said that “dozens” of law enforcement officers were searching for the 6-year-old boy in his neighborhood. “I am hoping the scenario is that he is scared of punishment and does not want to be found.”
The AP reported:
Rescue crews surrounded the balloon. The child’s fate was unclear. The balloon traveled for more than two hours.
Cathy Davis of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department told reporters the balloon was owned by the boy’s parents and tethered behind the family’s home. She said two sons were playing outside when the older boy saw the younger one go into a compartment at the bottom of the balloon and fly away.
From the Denver Post:
Rescuers are tracking and chasing a “homemade flying saucer” that is in flight with a 6-year-old, by himself, on board.
The incident started this morning in Fort Collins when the boy got into the balloon-like device, which was built by an adult, and it came loose from a tether, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
MSNBC Adds:
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Department said the boy’s family had been building an experimental aircraft that had a large helium balloon attached to it at their home, KUSA-TV reported. The aircraft was approximately 20 feet by 5 feet and covered in tin foil, the station said.
The AP detailed a neighbor’s observation of the takeoff:
“We were sitting eating, out looking where they normally shoot off hot air balloons. My husband said he saw something. It went over our rooftop. Then we saw the big round balloonish thing, it was spinning,” said neighbor Lisa Eklund.
Heene’s parents have reportedly appeared on “Wife Swap”.
We will keep you updated on the search for the six year-old boy, Falcon.
Click Thumbnails for Larger Pictures
Images: AP/Reuters
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