Arizona hot air balloon crash: First victim Katie Bartrom is pictured after four people were killed in a horrific incident
- Katie Bartrom, originally from Indiana, was named by her family
- The 28-year-old was one of four people killed in the crash, which left a fifth person seriously injured
- The balloon crashed to the ground in a desert about five miles from the city of Eloy
Relatives of the victims of a hot air balloon crash in the Arizona desert confirmed that a 28-year-old nurse was among the dead.
Speaking to ABC15, Katie Bartrom's family said she died in Sunday morning's crash that left four dead and one seriously injured.
Bartrom's mother told the outlet that the young woman, originally from Indiana, loved skydiving and adventure.
According to police, the plane crashed around 7:50 a.m. in the desert about five miles north of the city of Eloy.
Eloy Mayor Micah Powell said there were 13 people in the balloon, eight paratroopers, four passengers and a pilot.
Katie Bartrom, 28, was identified as one of four people killed in the hot air balloon crash in the Arizona desert on Sunday morning
Bartrom's mother described the nurse as someone who loved “skydiving and adventure.”
According to Eloy Mayor Micah Powell, there were 13 people in the balloon – eight paratroopers, four passengers and a pilot.
The plane crashed about five miles north of the town of Eloy in Pinal County. Bartrom was among the four people killed, while another person suffered serious injuries
One person was pronounced dead at the scene, the other three died at a hospital.
Another passenger remains in critical condition at a Valley hospital.
“Out of respect for their privacy, the names of the victims are currently being withheld pending notification of next of kin,” Eloy police announced in a news release.
Flyover video from FOX 10 Phoenix shows the balloon crumpled in the mud near the intersection of Sunshine Boulevard and Hanna Road.
Trucks arrived on site to tow the gondola away and hoist it onto a trailer with a crane.
Researchers could be seen walking over the mangled balloon, grabbing it by the corners to fold it up before carrying it away.
Federal agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, continue to investigate the incident.
An NTSB spokesperson said preliminary information indicates the balloon crashed due to an “unspecified problem” with the envelope.