AUSTRALIANS are confirmed to have been involved in the fatal hot air balloon crash in Egypt, which has killed at least one person and injured dozens of others.
The balloon crashed in the city of Luxor yesterday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement it was providing consular assistance to several Australians involved in the horrific accident.
Officials have not confirmed who died in the crash.
Egypt's Civil Aviation Authority and a hot-air balloon company referred to the incident as a hard landing and is investigating the crash.
Strong winds forced the balloon, which was carrying 20 people, off course above the southern city, home to some of Egypt's most famous Pharaonic temples and tombs.
The balloon took off around sunrise local time (Friday, 3pm AEDT) and flew about 45 minutes at an altitude of 450 meters before the pilot lost control over a mountainous area, the officials said, adding that the pilot was among those injured.
They said other balloons had taken off around the same time but landed safely.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
An official statement from the Luxor governorate confirmed that 12 people were injured.
It said the balloon passengers included South African, Argentine and Spanish tourists.
The state-run MENA news agency, citing Egypt's health minister, said all those wounded have been treated except for three who are currently undergoing operations.
Earlier in the day, Egypt's meteorological service had warned of strong winds across the country mainly in the Nile River Delta and northern Egypt.
Luxor has a history of hot air balloon crashes.
The deadliest took place in 2013 when a balloon flying over the city caught fire and plunged about 305 meters (1,000 feet), crashing into a sugar cane field and killing at least 19 foreign tourists.
