HOWELL, Mich. -- Witnesses captured horrifying moments as a hot air balloon crash-landed in a Michigan lake during a festival.
The balloon carrying one man struck power lines over Thompson Lake in Howell just after 8 a.m. Sunday, according to ABC affiliate WXYZ.
[Ads /]
A local fisherman, Dave Park, was admiring the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest's flyover when he saw a balloon hit the wires, sparking an explosion and fire.
After calling 911, Park and another boater rescued the pilot and brought him to shore, where rescue crews were waiting.
[Ads /]
"To be honest with you, I thanked the pilot for being alive because I thought when we got over there it wasn't going to turn out so well but it did," Park told WXYZ.
In a statement, the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest director said there were no injuries and the cause of the accident is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Authorities (FAA).