Egypt suspends ballooning over Luxor after two wounded

• Two tourists were injured during a hot air balloon flight over Luxor, prompting Egyptian officials to suspend activity.
• A hot air balloon carrying 28 people strayed off course but landed safely at the ancient city’s Temple of Karnak, officials said.

Two tourists were lightly hurt during a hot air balloon flight over the ancient city of Luxor early on Monday, prompting Egyptian officials to suspend the activity.

As per a Ministry of Civil Aviation statement, a hot air balloon carrying 28 visitors strayed off course but finally landed. The two injured tourists were reportedly sent to a hospital for treatment.

The message did not specify how the injuries occurred or the tourists’ nationalities. It was said simply that the balloon was 60 metres (197 feet) in altitude when it went off track.

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The ministry said that people won’t be able to go ballooning again until an investigation into what happened on Monday is done.

Ballooning over Luxor, which is 510 kilometres (320 miles) south of Cairo, is a popular way to see the ancient temples there.

However, accidents involving balloons are fairly rare. A hot air balloon collision near Luxor in 2013 resulted in the deaths of 19 tourists, making it possibly the deadliest incident of its kind on record.

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