Hot air balloon lands on Mass Pike ramp

AUBURN, Mass. (WWLP) - Seven people aboard a hot air balloon safely landed on a Mass Pike onramp Thursday morning.

David Procopio from State Police Media Relations told 22News that the balloon landed on a ramp leading from the Auburn maintenance area to the eastbound side of the Turnpike.

Procopio says that the pilot, Amadeo DeStefano, told State Police that he had trouble controlling the balloon’s direction, and wanted to land the balloon before it reached a denser urban area like nearby Worcester. It landed on the ramp at about 7:30 A.M. The balloon’s passengers were driven away, and the ramp has since been cleared.

The balloon is owned by the Bella Via Balloon Company, and was launched from Worcester earlier in the morning. DeStefano has an appropriate pilot's license, Procopio says.