Best friends
Two women lost their lives in a tragic air incident when a hot air balloon crashed during a rescue or emergency landing in Cappadocia. The victims, Maria Cristina Baltrons and Dolors Masana, were 62 and 64 years old respectively. They were accompanied on a jaunt organized by a local travel agency. Relatives traveled to Turkey to provide support, and more family members joined them in recent hours. At this time there is no precise estimate for when the bodies will be returned home. The government has begun the necessary procedures, and other women who were part of the trip may join them if needed.
Relatives and friends from Costa Brava knew the two women well. They had joined an organized group trip facilitated by a Lloret de Mar travel agency and set out with a larger party of twenty-two residents from the town. Masana was known as the wife of a veterinarian who opened the first clinic in Lloret de Mar, and she contributed to the family business. The two women left behind a son and a daughter, and their loss has touched many in the local community who knew them through work and social circles.
Maria Cristina Baltrons worked in an administrative role at a company and was a friend to Masana. She was also recognized as the sister of a municipal employee. Baltrons left behind a daughter and a son and was married. The women in the organized excursion had formed strong bonds, often traveling together. The travel agency coordinating the trip is Tastets del Món, based in Lloret de Mar.
Under investigation
The accident occurred during an emergency landing in Göreme. The balloon, which had departed from the Avanos district around 7:30 in the morning on Tuesday, was forced to make an emergency landing because of a sudden gust of wind ten minutes before nine. Local authorities reported that there were about thirty tourists and two crew members on board at the time. Two people died and five were injured in the incident.
Following the events, judicial and administrative investigations were opened on the same day. The company that operates the balloon described the incident as a safety error, stating that passengers who failed to assume the correct landing position fell from the basket. A group of women who had recently experienced a balloon accident in Cappadocia issued a statement to thank Nova Ràdio Lloret for the ongoing support as the investigation progressed. The note emphasized that all participants had consistently followed safety standards. No further details about the accident have emerged, but sources close to the case say that investigators are examining possible negligence as a contributing factor.
In response to the incident, authorities from the Ministry of Foreign Action and the European Union activated protocols for Catalan emergencies abroad. A moment of silence was observed in Lloret on Tuesday evening, with seven hundred residents gathering in front of the town hall. A period of mourning lasting three days was declared in the wake of the fatal accident, reflecting how deeply the community is affected.