Hong Kong Travel Industry Council, Kuoni criticised over reaction to Egypt hot air balloon fire
Coroner returns verdict of accidental death over tragedy, which saw 19 people die, including nine from Hong Kong
A coroner has criticised the Travel Industry Council and Kuoni Travel after ruling the deaths of nine Hongkongers in a hot-air balloon ride over Egypt was accidental.
Coroner June Cheung Tin-ngan described the accident as “one of the most tragic incidents that happened while Hong Kong citizens were travelling abroad”.
She ruled after a 14-day hearing that the nine Kuoni customers died during an optional, self-paid ride over Luxor when the hot air balloon they were in caught fire after it began landing procedures on February 26, 2013.
The blaze, caused by a hose fuel leak, brought serious and direct injury to the pilot, who was unable to do anything to control the flames as he left the balloon’s basket.
As the balloon was burning with a lighter basket, Cheung said it ascended until its envelope was so badly damaged that it could no longer support the basket.
It plunged into a sugar cane field. Of the 20 passengers, 19 died.
A passenger who jumped from the basket survived.
Siu Chi-keung, who lost two members of his family in the tragedy, said he felt emotional about the ruling, even though he expected a ruling of accidental death.
Eastern Court heard that Kuoni was recommended by its reception company, Paradise Travel, to pick Sky Cruise to offer the ride.
But Cheung was told Kuoni neither conducted a risk assessment nor checked Sky Cruise’s licensing documents and insurance policy. Instead it relied solely on the words of Paradise Travel.
Cheung said she was surprised neither the council nor Kuoni had conducted any evaluation following the tragedy.
She added it was “disappointing” the pair did not realise the risk despite the loss of the nine lives.
Her 11 recommendations included one urging the council to set new guidelines on the duty of travel firms to supervise reception companies.
Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung said he was very disappointed with the comments of the coroner.
He said it was hard to supervise reception companies and travel agencies could therefore only trust local licensing systems.