'They don't weigh as much': Hot air balloon crashed 'because it was carrying ''very light'' Chinese people'
- Hot air balloon operator said pilot didn't give himself enough space to land
- Kiff Saunders said one of the flights was carrying 'very light Chinese people'
- Two balloons crash landed near homes in Melbourne's east on Monday
- One resident said she heard balloon crash through gum trees at her house
The director of a hot air balloon company who had two flights land just metres from homes has claimed the driver of one didn't give himself enough time to stop as the balloon was full of 'very light Chinese people'.
Kiff Saunders runs Global Ballooning, and was on one of the flights that crash landed in Melbourne on Monday morning.
Both balloons came down near homes in the city's east, with one ending up in a woman's backyard.
Mr Saunders told Daily Mail Australia one of the hot air balloons was carrying Asian tourists who were 'light', and therefore the pilot misjudged the distance he needed to land.
'He had a basket of Chinese people, they're all very light you see. They don't weigh as much,' Mr Saunders said.
Kiff Saunders runs Global Ballooning, and was on one of the flights that crash landed in Melbourne on Monday morning. Pictured is the group on the other balloon
Mr Saunders told Daily Mail Australia one of the hot air balloons was carrying Asian tourists (pictured) who were 'light', and therefore the pilot misjudged the distance he needed to land
Two hot air balloons carrying 17 people crashed just metres away from houses in Melbourne
'[The pilot] didn't give himself as much room as he should've. It's not uncommon to have a drag landing.
'I've been doing this for 25 years - it is an adventure. Our primary concern is for people's safety.
'Sometimes these things happen, but obviously we'd rather they didn't.'
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The balloon carrying the Chinese tourists crashed down near properties in Vermont South on Monday morning.
A resident named Christine said she heard a balloon crash through gum trees and hit her pergola as it crash landed in her backyard.
'It was the scariest thing. I thought it was an earthquake. I'm still shaking actually,' she told 3AW.
One of balloons was reportedly carrying Chinese tourists and crashed down near properties in Vermont South on Monday morning
A resident named Christine said she heard a balloon crash through gum trees and hit her pergola as it crash landed in her backyard
'It was the scariest thing. I thought it was an earthquake. I'm still shaking actually,' she told 3AW
'The balloon is over our fence and everything and into our pool. We've now got the police and ambulance ... all I could hear is the crashing of the gum trees as it hit the gum trees.'
The two hot-air balloons crashed about five minutes apart in the city's east.
The first balloon carrying nine people crashed near the intersection of High Street Road and Eastlink in Wantrina South, while the second carrying eight people fell on Terrara Road at Vermont South.
The cause of the crashes is being investigated.
Roads have reportedly been affected by the crashes, with citybound traffic very heavy heading towards Melbourne.
The two hot-air balloons crashed about five minutes apart in the city's east.
The first balloon carrying nine people crashed near the intersection of High Street Road and Eastlink in Wantrina South, while the second carrying eight people fell on Terrara Road at Vermont South
Pictures of one of the balloons and its basket strewn over a backyard have been shared to social media.
One of the balloons featured the branding of radio station Nova.
Operator Global Ballooning said everyone in the two baskets landed safely.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Global Ballooning director Kiff Saunders - who was on one of the hot air balloon flights - for comment.
Pictures of one of the balloons and its basket strewn over a backyard have been shared to social media
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