Topic
Nine Hong Kong tourists were among 19 victims killed in Luxor, Egypt, when a hot-air balloon burst into flames as it was descending during a sightseeing tour on February 26, 2013. Only the Egyptian pilot and a Briton survived the early morning accident. The other victims, out of 20 passengers, were from France, Japan, Britain, Hungary and Egypt.
TOPIC
Nine Hong Kong tourists were among 19 victims killed in Luxor, Egypt, when a hot-air balloon burst into flames as it was descending during a sightseeing tour on February 26, 2013. Only the Egyptian pilot and a Briton survived the early morning accident. The other victims, out of 20 passengers, were from France, Japan, Britain, Hungary and Egypt.
Lawyers argue Kuoni Travel was the supplier of the ride, and negligence was involved
The Hong Kong Coroner's Court is to hold an inquest into last year's hot-air balloon tragedy in Egypt which cost the lives of nine tourists from the city.
The Hong Kong Coroner's Court is to hold an inquest into last year's hot-air balloon tragedy in Egypt which cost the lives of nine tourists from the city.
Relatives of the nine Hongkongers who died in a hot-air balloon tragedy in Egypt have won a small but crucial victory, with confirmation that their loved ones were covered by an insurance policy.
Relatives of the nine Hongkongers who died in a hot-air balloon tragedy in Egypt have won a small but crucial victory, with confirmation that their loved ones were covered by an insurance policy.
A hot air disaster crash in Egypt last year that killed 19 tourists, nine of them from Hong Kong, was probably caused by a gas leak, an official Egyptian report released yesterday said.
A hot air disaster crash in Egypt last year that killed 19 tourists, nine of them from Hong Kong, was probably caused by a gas leak, an official Egyptian report released yesterday said.
Hong Kong will send a pathologist to Egypt to help the families of the victims of the balloon crash, the Health Department said on Wednesday. Nine Hong Kong tourists, who each paid US$190 (HK$1,474) per person for the sightseeing trip, were killed in the horrible balloon crash in Luxor on Tuesday.
Hong Kong will send a pathologist to Egypt to help the families of the victims of the balloon crash, the Health Department said on Wednesday. Nine Hong Kong tourists, who each paid US$190 (HK$1,474) per person for the sightseeing trip, were killed in the horrible balloon crash in Luxor on Tuesday.
Some Hong Kong tour agencies have suspended hot-air balloon trips in Egypt and elsewhere after yesterday's fatal accident in Luxor, while others are reviewing their activities. Besides Kuoni, which organised the tour on which the nine Hongkongers died, EGL Tours has suspended balloon trips in destinations including Turkey and Australia. But EGL said it could not prevent individual holidaymakers from taking part in such activities at their own risk.
Some Hong Kong tour agencies have suspended hot-air balloon trips in Egypt and elsewhere after yesterday's fatal accident in Luxor, while others are reviewing their activities. Besides Kuoni, which organised the tour on which the nine Hongkongers died, EGL Tours has suspended balloon trips in destinations including Turkey and Australia. But EGL said it could not prevent individual holidaymakers from taking part in such activities at their own risk.
A 45-minute hot-air balloon flight over the River Nile and across the Valley of the Kings has long been considered the highlight of a tour to Luxor - one of the top tourist destinations in Egypt. Most flights are scheduled around the sunrise or sunset hours and are extremely popular with foreign tourists, a manager from SindBad Hot Air Balloons in Luxor said.
A 45-minute hot-air balloon flight over the River Nile and across the Valley of the Kings has long been considered the highlight of a tour to Luxor - one of the top tourist destinations in Egypt. Most flights are scheduled around the sunrise or sunset hours and are extremely popular with foreign tourists, a manager from SindBad Hot Air Balloons in Luxor said.
Company general manager Simon Chan Kwan said aerial activity was excluded from the insurance coverage and that it was so stated in the policy document.
Company general manager Simon Chan Kwan said aerial activity was excluded from the insurance coverage and that it was so stated in the policy document.
Few of us can imagine the horror and disbelief of the tourists, nine from Hong Kong, caught up in the hot-air balloon disaster in Egypt. In an instant, an adventure of wonder and awe became a fight for life, one that circumstances meant was bound to end tragically. The grief and sorrow of the relatives and friends of all who perished are shared by us all, a reminder of how easily loved ones can be taken from us. Questions as to what happened abound and they need to be answered.
Few of us can imagine the horror and disbelief of the tourists, nine from Hong Kong, caught up in the hot-air balloon disaster in Egypt. In an instant, an adventure of wonder and awe became a fight for life, one that circumstances meant was bound to end tragically. The grief and sorrow of the relatives and friends of all who perished are shared by us all, a reminder of how easily loved ones can be taken from us. Questions as to what happened abound and they need to be answered.
Yesterday's ballooning tragedy was not the first fatal accident involving Hong Kong tourists in Egypt and other locations. In 2006, a speeding tour bus on its way to Luxor from the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, ran off the highway and rolled over, killing 14 Hong Kong residents and injuring 30.
Yesterday's ballooning tragedy was not the first fatal accident involving Hong Kong tourists in Egypt and other locations. In 2006, a speeding tour bus on its way to Luxor from the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, ran off the highway and rolled over, killing 14 Hong Kong residents and injuring 30.
The Government Laboratory received the body samples after 10pm on Saturday and announced confirmation of the victims' identities in Cairo at 5pm Hong Kong time yesterday - just hours after relatives paid a tearful pilgrimage to Luxor.
The Government Laboratory received the body samples after 10pm on Saturday and announced confirmation of the victims' identities in Cairo at 5pm Hong Kong time yesterday - just hours after relatives paid a tearful pilgrimage to Luxor.
The list of dead in the tragic balloon accident in Egypt's Luxor included three Hong Kong families. The youngest victim was 33 and the oldest 62.
The list of dead in the tragic balloon accident in Egypt's Luxor included three Hong Kong families. The youngest victim was 33 and the oldest 62.
Although a journey by balloon has become one of the images most strongly associated with the film, this iconic symbol was never deployed in the book by Verne himself - the idea is briefly raised but dismissed, as it "would have been highly risky and, in any case, impossible".
Although a journey by balloon has become one of the images most strongly associated with the film, this iconic symbol was never deployed in the book by Verne himself - the idea is briefly raised but dismissed, as it "would have been highly risky and, in any case, impossible".
Operators of hot-air balloons in Luxor may restart their trips this week despite ongoing investigations into the accident that killed nine Hongkongers and 10 other tourists on Tuesday.
Operators of hot-air balloons in Luxor may restart their trips this week despite ongoing investigations into the accident that killed nine Hongkongers and 10 other tourists on Tuesday.
Egyptian authorities have turned down a request from the Hong Kong government to help investigate the hot-air balloon crash that killed 19 people, including nine local tourists, last week.
Egyptian authorities have turned down a request from the Hong Kong government to help investigate the hot-air balloon crash that killed 19 people, including nine local tourists, last week.
Egyptian balloon pilots suspect the crash was caused by faulty hardware rather than human error on the part of Moman Mourad, the 28-year-old Sky Cruise pilot who jumped from the balloon and suffered severe burns.
Egyptian balloon pilots suspect the crash was caused by faulty hardware rather than human error on the part of Moman Mourad, the 28-year-old Sky Cruise pilot who jumped from the balloon and suffered severe burns.